at fixation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at fixation" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts related to psychology, vision research, or studies involving attention, referring to the moment when a person's gaze is focused on a specific point. Example: "The participants were instructed to maintain their gaze at fixation for a duration of five seconds before responding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Intriguingly, the AT fixation biases were even more extreme for the X chromosome (supplementary fig. S1, Supplementary Material online).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Second, the AT fixation bias was considerably greater on the X chromosome (1.97X) than on the autosomes (1.39X).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Given that the D. melanogaster lineage exhibits a strong AT fixation bias, it is natural to ask whether the degree of bias is heterogeneous across the genome.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Participants fixated and performed an orthogonal color-change detection task at fixation.

Cerebral Cortex

However, these studies exclusively used face stimuli presented at fixation and it is unclear whether their conclusion can apply to peripheral face stimuli.

NeuroImage

We then examined responses to tactile motion on the arm, either presented passively or in the presence of a visual task performed at fixation designed to minimize visualization of the concurrent tactile stimulation.

NeuroImage

This study first aimed to confirm recent evidence that increasing non-spatial processing load at fixation can unmask a spatial gradient of target detection in children with ADHD but not Controls.

Neuropsychologia

Here, we used fMRI to assess activation for ground regions of task-irrelevant novel silhouettes presented in the left or right visual field (LVF or RVF) while participants performed a difficult task at fixation.

Cortex

We compared those components with the ones obtained in a control task at fixation: qualitative similarities as well as differences in terms of scalp topography and latency emerged between the two.

NeuroImage

Even task-irrelevant stimuli presented at fixation can interfere with processing of peripheral visual targets (Beck & Lavie, 2005; Schwartz et al., 2005).

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

At fixation times of 0.5, 2 and 4 h, the ABU value of fluorescence in the dermis layer that had received the formulation with LNE was 3.7-, 7.3- and 9.9-fold higher than the respective one with GE.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In eye-tracking studies, ensure participants maintain their gaze "at fixation" before stimulus presentation to control for initial eye position.

Common error

Avoid using "at fixation" when you mean 'fixating on'. "At fixation" refers to the location or condition, whereas 'fixating on' describes the act of focusing one's gaze on something. For example, say 'the stimulus appeared at fixation' not 'the participant was at fixation'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at fixation" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the location or condition of an action related to visual attention or gaze. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

99%

News & Media

0.5%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at fixation" is a grammatically sound and highly prevalent phrase, especially in scientific contexts, employed to pinpoint the position of visual focus during experiments or observations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, adding crucial spatial context. To use it effectively, remember that it describes a location or condition, not an action. While alternatives like "while fixating" or "during visual focus" exist, "at fixation" maintains precision in describing experimental conditions. With its prevalence in authoritative sources, mastering its usage is essential for clear and accurate scientific writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while fixating

Focuses on the action of maintaining visual focus, emphasizing the ongoing process.

during visual focus

Emphasizes the period when visual attention is concentrated on a specific point.

with gaze directed at

Highlights the direction of the gaze towards a particular location or object.

when visually focused

Describes the state of being visually attentive and locked onto a point.

at the point of focus

Specifies the precise location where attention is visually concentrated.

while maintaining focus

Highlights the continuous effort of sustaining visual attention.

under focused gaze

Implies that observation happens when the gaze is precisely oriented.

during attentional focus

Expands beyond the purely visual, hinting at general focused attention.

with visual attention centered

Highlights the centralization of visual attention on a specific point.

in the center of gaze

Focuses specifically on the location where the eyes are directed.

FAQs

How is "at fixation" used in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, "at fixation" typically describes the location or condition where a subject's gaze is directed. For example, 'a stimulus was presented "at fixation"' or 'participants were instructed to maintain their gaze "at fixation"'.

What are some alternative phrases for "at fixation"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "at fixation" include "while fixating", "during visual focus", or "with gaze directed at". Choose the phrase that best reflects the specific meaning you intend to convey.

What does it mean to present a stimulus "at fixation" in vision experiments?

Presenting a stimulus "at fixation" means showing it at the location where participants are instructed to focus their gaze, usually the center of the screen. This ensures a controlled starting point for visual processing and eye movements.

Is it correct to say "the participant is at fixation"?

While understandable, it is more precise to say "the participant is fixating" or "the participant's gaze is "at fixation"". "At fixation" is more accurately used to describe a location or condition rather than the action of a person.