The pattern of microsaccades on the text.

Microsaccades were divided into different categories depending on their starting and landing positions. (A) Average probabilities of task-relevant and task-irrelevant microsaccades obtained in three conditions: (1) the actual data, (2) by randomly placing the microsaccades performed during sustained fixation over the text (Random placement), and (3) by substituting the microsaccades performed during reading with those performed during sustained fixation (Original placement). Error bars represent s.e.m. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.01, two-tailed t-test). (B) Task-relevant microsaccades were mostly characterized by microsaccades branching two nearby words (Inter-word), and by microsaccades shifting the gaze within one word (Intra-word).