title: Coherent illusory contours reduce microsaccade frequency.
abstract: Synchronized high-frequency gamma band oscillations (30-100 Hz) are thought to mediate the binding of single visual features into whole-object representations. For example, induced gamma band oscillations (iGBRs) have been recorded ∼ 280 ms after the onset of a coherent Kanizsa triangle, but not after an incoherent equivalent shape. However, several recent studies have provided evidence that the EEG-recorded iGBR may be a by-product of small saccadic eye movements (microsaccades). Considering these two previous findings, one would hypothesis that there should be more microsaccades following the onset of a coherent Kanizsa triangle. However, we found that microsaccade rebound rate was significantly higher after an incoherent triangle was presented. This result suggests that microsaccades are not a reliable indicator of perceptual binding, and, more importantly, implies that iGBR cannot be universally produced by ocular artefacts.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom. alexis.makin@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alexis D J
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Makin
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ackerley
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poliakoff
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gowen
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: El-Deredy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058256:Brain Waves; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009903:Optical Illusions / Q000502:physiology*; D010466:Perceptual Closure / Q000502:physiology*; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D055815:Young Adult