Visual perception and saccadic eye movements

We use saccades several times per second to move the fovea between points of interest and build an understanding of our visual environment. Recent behavioral experiments show evidence for the integration of pre- and postsaccadic information (even subliminally), the modulation of visual sensitivity, and the rapid reallocation of attention. The recent physiological literature has identified a characteristic modulation of neural responsiveness - perisaccadic reduction followed by a postsaccadic increase - that is found in many visual areas, but whose source is as yet unknown. This modulation seems optimal for reducing sensitivity during and boosting sensitivity between saccades, but no study has yet established a direct causal link between neural and behavioral changes.

► Responses in many visual areas are reduced during but also just before saccades. ► After each saccade responses are often increased for 200-400 ms. ► Perisaccadic visual input that is not seen is not lost; it can be retrieved. ► As yet, the link between neural and behavioral perisaccadic changes is indirect.