The natural state of our world, the way we experience it, is that it is continuous. The visual system is key in the construction of continuity; it is our richest sense. In modern life, the sense of continuity is often at stake in situations that involves interaction with various kinds of screens. My research delves into the experience of continuity and how discontinuity affects cognitive load when people interact with 2D imagery, aiming to unravel the nuanced ways visual search strategies play a role in overcoming the potentially disruptive effects of discontinuity. Cognitive load, defined as the mental effort required for task completion, has long been recognized as a critical factor in cognitive psychology. However, how it is affected by discontinuity and visual search behavior remain a dynamic area of exploration. Eye-Tracking as a scientific method of inquiry, can provide valuable insights into the effects of cognitive load on visual attention and information processing. It allows researchers to analyze participants' gaze patterns and fixations during cognitive tasks. Since Eye-tracking provides a real-time measure of attentional focus, it may also illuminate how cognitive load can influence where individuals allocate their attention, revealing whether cognitive load leads to shifts in attention toward or away from specific stimuli or regions of interest. The results of my ET-research, so far, reveals that cognitive load increases when people unknowingly experience discontinuity. However, changes in pupil size, that indicate cognitive load, do not necessarily correlate with specific gaze behaviors. 

Per E. Ekwall has a background as a TV-producer (USA) and has always been interested in the bio-mechanics of perception. He completed his MA in Communication from Stanford University (2003) and completed his PhD from Mälardalen University (Sweden, 2018) in the areo of Innovation and Design. He is the director of the Media Production Department, Dalarna University, a premier media production educator-unit in northern Sweden. He has published more than 20 papers, journal articles and book chapters on issues that relate to perception, vision, design and media production.