lecture 19: eye movements

Why do we move our eyes?

To prevent images from disappearing (Troxler fading), to cancel out image motion caused by head and body movements, and to keep objects of interest on the fovea.

What is the fastest reflex in the body related to eye movement?

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), which helps stabilize vision during head movements.

What are saccades?

Rapid ballistic movements of the eye that change fixation from one point to another.

What is smooth pursuit?

A type of eye movement used to track moving objects deliberately.

What is saccadic suppression?

The brain's temporary reduction of visual sensitivity during saccadic eye movements to prevent blurriness.

What is trans-saccadic integration?

The process of combining visual information from before, during, and after a saccade to perceive a stable visual world.

What happens to fine detail vision during a saccade?

Fine details may become invisible or 'greyed out,' while color vision remains unaffected.

What is the role of the early visual cortex (e.g. V1) in eye movements?

It creates an image-centered map of retinal images that contributes to visual perception.

What did the study by Honda (1991) reveal about eye position signal?

It suggests that the eye position signal used for creating a spatiotopic map starts before saccadic movements and continues for some time after.

What historical studies are related to saccadic suppression?

Studies by Dodge (1900) and Woodworth (1906) explored the visual system's limitations during rapid motion.