{"id":{"repo_id":"oxford-brookes","oai_identifier":"tle:bce280cc-a364-4fcc-8b0a-2a6c9f3c419f:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/oxford-brookes/tle:bce280cc-a364-4fcc-8b0a-2a6c9f3c419f:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1","repository":{"repo_id":"oxford-brookes","name":"Oxford Brookes University","base_url":"https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/oai"},"display":{"title":"Gaze behaviour and gait smoothness when navigating complex environments","abstract":"Introduction. Many studies have shown how gaze and gait behaviour can be influenced by the presence of obstacles such as, static and dynamic objects and terrain changes. However, these studies utilise controlled and stable laboratory environments. During real-world navigation individuals will encounter a range of different obstacles such as static and dynamic obstacles, aperture changes, and terrain changes. Visual feedback is crucial for obstacle navigation and can provide individuals with relevant information such as safe foot placement spaces. These changes in gait can disrupt gait symmetry and cause a less smooth gait. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between gaze indicators of information processing and gait smoothness during real-world and laboratory environments. Methodology. Gaze indicators of information and gait smoothness of 13 participants were measured during laboratory and real-world environments. Laboratory trials required participants to complete the Stroop Test following a walk down a simulated corridor while some trials included a dynamic pedestrian. The real-world trial consisted of a pre-determined route that participants were asked to navigate at their preferred walking speed. Results. Results of the laboratory trials found no significant differences of fixation duration means between trials with and without a dynamic obstacle (t(4)=-0.113,p=0.458,d=-0.050). There were also no significant differences in pupil diameter means between trials with and without a dynamic obstacle (t(4)=1.032,p=0.180, d=-0.461). No significant differences of gait smoothness between trial conditions were found in the medio-lateral (t(6)=-0.492, p=0.320, d=-0.186), vertical (t(6)=0.336, p,0.374, d=0.127), and anterior-posterior plane (t(6)=-1.548, p=0.086, d=-0.585). In the real-world trials results found no relationship between gait smoothness and the grand mean of all fixation classifiers for pupil diameter and fixation duration; medio-lateral LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.726, p=0.513, R²=-0.058), vertical LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.544, p=0.601, R²=-0.100), anterior-posterior LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.200, p=0.823, R²=0.191). There was a strong positive correlation between incongruent reaction time and pupil diameter of all fixation classifiers (r=0.642, p=0.024) However, no correlation was found between congruent reaction time and fixation duration of all fixation classifiers (r=0.225, p=0.483), incongruent reaction time and fixation duration of fixation classifiers (r=0.42, p=0.897) and congruent reaction time and pupil diameter of fixation classifiers (r=305, p=0.335). There were no significant correlations between congruent reaction times and vertical LDLJ (r=0.336, p=0.312), medio-lateral LDLJ (r=-0.341, p=0.305), and anterior-posterior LDLJ (r=-0.093, p=0.786). There were also no significant correlations between incongruent reaction times and vertical LDLJ (r=-0.104, p=0.761), medio-lateral LDLJ (r=-0.257, p=0.305), and anterior-posterior LDLJ (r=0.004, p=0.990). Multiple repeated measure ANOVAs found a significant main effect of fixation classifiers and fixation duration (f(4.678,51)=3.691, p<0.007, η²ₚ=0.251 however, after a post hoc Holm-Bonferroni correction no significant differences were found in the pairwise comparisons. A significant main effect was found between fixation classifiers and pupil diameter (f(4.437, 4.408)=8.402 p<0.001, η²ₚ =0.433, and after a Holm-Bonferroni correction multiple pairwise comparisons were found. Conclusions. Young and healthy individuals have higher levels of executive function and have higher dynamic stability when compared to older individuals. Future studies should implement more complex real-world environments such as outdoor areas and should use populations with lower cognitive abilities or gait impairments.","abstract_html":"Introduction. Many studies have shown how gaze and gait behaviour can be influenced by the presence of obstacles such as, static and dynamic objects and terrain changes. However, these studies utilise controlled and stable laboratory environments. During real-world navigation individuals will encounter a range of different obstacles such as static and dynamic obstacles, aperture changes, and terrain changes. Visual feedback is crucial for obstacle navigation and can provide individuals with relevant information such as safe foot placement spaces. These changes in gait can disrupt gait symmetry and cause a less smooth gait. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between gaze indicators of information processing and gait smoothness during real-world and laboratory environments. Methodology. Gaze indicators of information and gait smoothness of 13 participants were measured during laboratory and real-world environments. Laboratory trials required participants to complete the Stroop Test following a walk down a simulated corridor while some trials included a dynamic pedestrian. The real-world trial consisted of a pre-determined route that participants were asked to navigate at their preferred walking speed. Results. Results of the laboratory trials found no significant differences of fixation duration means between trials with and without a dynamic obstacle (t(4)=-0.113,p=0.458,d=-0.050). There were also no significant differences in pupil diameter means between trials with and without a dynamic obstacle (t(4)=1.032,p=0.180, d=-0.461). No significant differences of gait smoothness between trial conditions were found in the medio-lateral (t(6)=-0.492, p=0.320, d=-0.186), vertical (t(6)=0.336, p,0.374, d=0.127), and anterior-posterior plane (t(6)=-1.548, p=0.086, d=-0.585). In the real-world trials results found no relationship between gait smoothness and the grand mean of all fixation classifiers for pupil diameter and fixation duration; medio-lateral LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.726, p=0.513, R²=-0.058), vertical LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.544, p=0.601, R²=-0.100), anterior-posterior LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.200, p=0.823, R²=0.191). There was a strong positive correlation between incongruent reaction time and pupil diameter of all fixation classifiers (r=0.642, p=0.024) However, no correlation was found between congruent reaction time and fixation duration of all fixation classifiers (r=0.225, p=0.483), incongruent reaction time and fixation duration of fixation classifiers (r=0.42, p=0.897) and congruent reaction time and pupil diameter of fixation classifiers (r=305, p=0.335). There were no significant correlations between congruent reaction times and vertical LDLJ (r=0.336, p=0.312), medio-lateral LDLJ (r=-0.341, p=0.305), and anterior-posterior LDLJ (r=-0.093, p=0.786). There were also no significant correlations between incongruent reaction times and vertical LDLJ (r=-0.104, p=0.761), medio-lateral LDLJ (r=-0.257, p=0.305), and anterior-posterior LDLJ (r=0.004, p=0.990). Multiple repeated measure ANOVAs found a significant main effect of fixation classifiers and fixation duration (f(4.678,51)=3.691, p&lt;0.007, η²ₚ=0.251 however, after a post hoc Holm-Bonferroni correction no significant differences were found in the pairwise comparisons. A significant main effect was found between fixation classifiers and pupil diameter (f(4.437, 4.408)=8.402 p&lt;0.001, η²ₚ =0.433, and after a Holm-Bonferroni correction multiple pairwise comparisons were found. Conclusions. Young and healthy individuals have higher levels of executive function and have higher dynamic stability when compared to older individuals. Future studies should implement more complex real-world environments such as outdoor areas and should use populations with lower cognitive abilities or gait impairments.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Fullman, Chelsea"],"institution":"Oxford Brookes University","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Walsh, Greg","Franks, Ben"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":null,"date_issued":"","date_published":null,"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:42:08Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":["All rights reserved"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.24384/28ky-px44","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Fullman, Chelsea","Walsh, Greg","Franks, Ben"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Fullman, Chelsea"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Oxford Brookes University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["All rights reserved"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://doi.org/10.24384/28ky-px44","https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/bce280cc-a364-4fcc-8b0a-2a6c9f3c419f/1/Fullman2025GaitSmoothness.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Introduction. Many studies have shown how gaze and gait behaviour can be influenced by the presence of obstacles such as, static and dynamic objects and terrain changes. However, these studies utilise controlled and stable laboratory environments. During real-world navigation individuals will encounter a range of different obstacles such as static and dynamic obstacles, aperture changes, and terrain changes. Visual feedback is crucial for obstacle navigation and can provide individuals with relevant information such as safe foot placement spaces. These changes in gait can disrupt gait symmetry and cause a less smooth gait. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between gaze indicators of information processing and gait smoothness during real-world and laboratory environments. Methodology. Gaze indicators of information and gait smoothness of 13 participants were measured during laboratory and real-world environments. Laboratory trials required participants to complete the Stroop Test following a walk down a simulated corridor while some trials included a dynamic pedestrian. The real-world trial consisted of a pre-determined route that participants were asked to navigate at their preferred walking speed. Results. Results of the laboratory trials found no significant differences of fixation duration means between trials with and without a dynamic obstacle (t(4)=-0.113,p=0.458,d=-0.050). There were also no significant differences in pupil diameter means between trials with and without a dynamic obstacle (t(4)=1.032,p=0.180, d=-0.461). No significant differences of gait smoothness between trial conditions were found in the medio-lateral (t(6)=-0.492, p=0.320, d=-0.186), vertical (t(6)=0.336, p,0.374, d=0.127), and anterior-posterior plane (t(6)=-1.548, p=0.086, d=-0.585). In the real-world trials results found no relationship between gait smoothness and the grand mean of all fixation classifiers for pupil diameter and fixation duration; medio-lateral LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.726, p=0.513, R²=-0.058), vertical LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.544, p=0.601, R²=-0.100), anterior-posterior LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.200, p=0.823, R²=0.191). There was a strong positive correlation between incongruent reaction time and pupil diameter of all fixation classifiers (r=0.642, p=0.024) However, no correlation was found between congruent reaction time and fixation duration of all fixation classifiers (r=0.225, p=0.483), incongruent reaction time and fixation duration of fixation classifiers (r=0.42, p=0.897) and congruent reaction time and pupil diameter of fixation classifiers (r=305, p=0.335). There were no significant correlations between congruent reaction times and vertical LDLJ (r=0.336, p=0.312), medio-lateral LDLJ (r=-0.341, p=0.305), and anterior-posterior LDLJ (r=-0.093, p=0.786). There were also no significant correlations between incongruent reaction times and vertical LDLJ (r=-0.104, p=0.761), medio-lateral LDLJ (r=-0.257, p=0.305), and anterior-posterior LDLJ (r=0.004, p=0.990). Multiple repeated measure ANOVAs found a significant main effect of fixation classifiers and fixation duration (f(4.678,51)=3.691, p<0.007, η²ₚ=0.251 however, after a post hoc Holm-Bonferroni correction no significant differences were found in the pairwise comparisons. A significant main effect was found between fixation classifiers and pupil diameter (f(4.437, 4.408)=8.402 p<0.001, η²ₚ =0.433, and after a Holm-Bonferroni correction multiple pairwise comparisons were found. Conclusions. Young and healthy individuals have higher levels of executive function and have higher dynamic stability when compared to older individuals. Future studies should implement more complex real-world environments such as outdoor areas and should use populations with lower cognitive abilities or gait impairments."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Gaze behaviour and gait smoothness when navigating complex environments"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Fullman, Chelsea","Walsh, Greg","Franks, Ben"],"dc:creator":["Fullman, Chelsea"],"dc:description":["Introduction. Many studies have shown how gaze and gait behaviour can be influenced by the presence of obstacles such as, static and dynamic objects and terrain changes. However, these studies utilise controlled and stable laboratory environments. During real-world navigation individuals will encounter a range of different obstacles such as static and dynamic obstacles, aperture changes, and terrain changes. Visual feedback is crucial for obstacle navigation and can provide individuals with relevant information such as safe foot placement spaces. These changes in gait can disrupt gait symmetry and cause a less smooth gait. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between gaze indicators of information processing and gait smoothness during real-world and laboratory environments. Methodology. Gaze indicators of information and gait smoothness of 13 participants were measured during laboratory and real-world environments. Laboratory trials required participants to complete the Stroop Test following a walk down a simulated corridor while some trials included a dynamic pedestrian. The real-world trial consisted of a pre-determined route that participants were asked to navigate at their preferred walking speed. Results. Results of the laboratory trials found no significant differences of fixation duration means between trials with and without a dynamic obstacle (t(4)=-0.113,p=0.458,d=-0.050). There were also no significant differences in pupil diameter means between trials with and without a dynamic obstacle (t(4)=1.032,p=0.180, d=-0.461). No significant differences of gait smoothness between trial conditions were found in the medio-lateral (t(6)=-0.492, p=0.320, d=-0.186), vertical (t(6)=0.336, p,0.374, d=0.127), and anterior-posterior plane (t(6)=-1.548, p=0.086, d=-0.585). In the real-world trials results found no relationship between gait smoothness and the grand mean of all fixation classifiers for pupil diameter and fixation duration; medio-lateral LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.726, p=0.513, R²=-0.058), vertical LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.544, p=0.601, R²=-0.100), anterior-posterior LDLJ (F(2,8)=0.200, p=0.823, R²=0.191). There was a strong positive correlation between incongruent reaction time and pupil diameter of all fixation classifiers (r=0.642, p=0.024) However, no correlation was found between congruent reaction time and fixation duration of all fixation classifiers (r=0.225, p=0.483), incongruent reaction time and fixation duration of fixation classifiers (r=0.42, p=0.897) and congruent reaction time and pupil diameter of fixation classifiers (r=305, p=0.335). There were no significant correlations between congruent reaction times and vertical LDLJ (r=0.336, p=0.312), medio-lateral LDLJ (r=-0.341, p=0.305), and anterior-posterior LDLJ (r=-0.093, p=0.786). There were also no significant correlations between incongruent reaction times and vertical LDLJ (r=-0.104, p=0.761), medio-lateral LDLJ (r=-0.257, p=0.305), and anterior-posterior LDLJ (r=0.004, p=0.990). Multiple repeated measure ANOVAs found a significant main effect of fixation classifiers and fixation duration (f(4.678,51)=3.691, p<0.007, η²ₚ=0.251 however, after a post hoc Holm-Bonferroni correction no significant differences were found in the pairwise comparisons. A significant main effect was found between fixation classifiers and pupil diameter (f(4.437, 4.408)=8.402 p<0.001, η²ₚ =0.433, and after a Holm-Bonferroni correction multiple pairwise comparisons were found. Conclusions. Young and healthy individuals have higher levels of executive function and have higher dynamic stability when compared to older individuals. Future studies should implement more complex real-world environments such as outdoor areas and should use populations with lower cognitive abilities or gait impairments."],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://doi.org/10.24384/28ky-px44","https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/bce280cc-a364-4fcc-8b0a-2a6c9f3c419f/1/Fullman2025GaitSmoothness.pdf"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Oxford Brookes University"],"dc:rights":["All rights reserved"],"dc:title":["Gaze behaviour and gait smoothness when navigating complex environments"],"dc:type":["thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:42:08Z"}