Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2006-2-21
pubmed:abstractText
When the eyes fixate at a point in a visual scene, small saccades rapidly shift the image on the retina. The effect of these microsaccades on the latency of subsequent large-scale saccades may be twofold. First, microsaccades are associated with an enhancement of visual perception. Their occurrence during saccade target perception could, thus, decrease saccade latencies. Second, microsaccades are likely to indicate activity in fixation-related oculomotor neurons. These represent competitors to saccade-related cells in the interplay of gaze holding and shifting. Consequently, an increase in saccade latencies would be expected after microsaccades. Here, we present evidence for both aspects of microsaccadic impact on saccade latency. In a delayed response task, participants made saccades to visible or memorized targets. First, microsaccade occurrence up to 50 ms before target disappearance correlated with 18 ms (or 8%) faster saccades to memorized targets. Second, if microsaccades occurred shortly (i.e., <150 ms) before a saccade was required, mean saccadic reaction time in visual and memory trials was increased by about 40 ms (or 16%). Hence, microsaccades can have opposite consequences for saccade latencies, pointing at a differential role of these fixational eye movements in the preparation of saccade motor programs.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0014-4819
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
169
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
369-76
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-11
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2006
pubmed:articleTitle
Shortening and prolongation of saccade latencies following microsaccades.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Cognitive Psychology, University of Potsdam, P.O. Box 601553, 14415, Potsdam, Germany. rolfs@uni-potsdam.de
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't