title: Adaptation of reactive saccades in normal children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the amount, the retention, and the extinction of saccadic adaptation in two groups: 9 adults (23-36 years old) and 9 children (11-14 years old).
  
  
  METHODS
  The paradigm used was a classical double-step target to elicit the shortening of saccade gains in response to a 2° backward step (20% of target eccentricity). Two conditions were run in the pre- and postadaptation phases without and with postsaccadic visual feedback, to allow examination of the retention and the extinction of saccadic adaptation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adaptation of reactive saccades occurred in children as well as adults. Both groups showed a progressive shortening of saccade amplitude and good retention. The main difference concerned the speed of extinction, i.e., return to baseline, which was slower for children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cerebral structures involved in human short-term adaptation of reactive saccades are functional in regard to adaptive shortening of saccade amplitude. Divergent patterns in the extinction of adaptation between children and adults suggested that lengthening of saccade gain is not yet well established in children. Further investigation is needed to clarify whether processes responsible for backward adaptation are mature before those for forward adaptation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Psychologie et Neuropsychologie Cognitives, FRE 3292 CNRS IUPDP Université Paris Descartes, Boulogne, Billancourt Cedex, France. karine.dore@parisdescartes.fr
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doré-Mazars
authors.forename: Dorine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vergilino-Perez
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bucci
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012016:Reference Values; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult