Final answer:
Saccadic eye movements are rapid, conjugate movements of the eyes used to survey a visual stimulus. They help us focus on specific areas of interest in an image, such as a face. The correct answer is a. a saccadic eye movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is a. a saccadic eye movement. When scanning a photograph and briefly pausing on one face, the rapid, conjugate movements of the eyes to survey the visual stimulus are called saccadic eye movements. These movements allow us to focus on specific areas of interest in the image, such as the major features of a face.
An example of saccadic eye movements is the concentration of gaze on the eyes and mouth while studying a face. These movements help us gather information about the visual stimulus by directing our fovea, the center of the retina responsible for high-acuity vision, onto different areas of the image.
Overall, saccadic eye movements play an important role in visual perception and processing, allowing us to effectively explore and gather information from our visual environment. The correct answer is a. a saccadic eye movement.