The spatio-temporal tuning of the mechanisms in the control of saccadic eye movements.
We compared the spatio-temporal tuning of perception to the mechanisms that drive saccadic eye movements. Detection thresholds were measured for Gabor-targets presented left or right of fixation (4 or 8deg eccentricity), at one of four spatial frequencies (1, 2, 4 or 8cpd) oscillating at one of three temporal frequencies (1, 8 or 16Hz). We then measured saccade latency to each target presented at various multiples of detection threshold. Consistent with previous research, latency decreased as a function of contrast. However, at equal detection performance, we found no systematic difference in saccadic latency and no difference in average oculometric performance (% correct saccade direction) across the different target spatio-temporal frequencies. Furthermore, position error remained fairly constant across all conditions. The results are consistent with the idea that the spatio-temporal signals used for perception are the same as those used by the mechanisms driving saccadic eye movements.
White
Brian J
BJ
Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Allgemeine Psychologie, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10F, D-35394 Giessen, Germany. brian.j.white@psychol.uni-giessen.de
Kerzel
Dirk
D
Gegenfurtner
Karl R
KR
D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics; D011930:Reaction Time; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*