Detection radius modulates systematic strategies in unstructured haptic search

Movement strategies were investigated in a one-handed haptic search task where blindfolded sighted participants used either one or five fingers to find a landmark on an unstructured tactile map. Search theory predicts that systematic strategies, such as parallel sweeps and spirals, should be more prevalent when the searcher´s detection radius is small (one finger) than when the detection radius is large (five fingers). Movement patterns were classified as either non-systematic or systematic. As predicted by search theory, systematic strategies were more common in one-finger than five-finger searches. Overall, these results indicate that systematic haptic search strategies are used and modulated by detection radius for untrained sighted participants.