Abstract
When a fixation point is removed 200 msec prior to target onset (the gap condition), human subjects are said to produce eye movements that have a short latency (80–120 msec), that form the early peak of a bimodal latency distribution, and that have been labeled “human express saccades” (see, e.g., Fischer, 1987; Fischer & Breitmeyer, 1987; Fischer & Ramsperger, 1984, 1986). In three experiments, we sought to obtain this express saccade diagnostic pattern in the gap condition, We orthogonally combined target location predictability with the presence versus absence of catch trials (Experiment 1). When target location was fixed and catch trials were not used, we found mostly anticipations. In the remaining conditions, where responses were under stimulus control, bimodality was not frequently observed, and, whether it was or not, latencies were not in the express saccade range. Using random target locations, we then varied stimulus luminance and the mode of stimulus presentation (LEDs vs. oscilloscope) in the gap and overlap (fixation is not removed) conditions (Experiment2). Bimodality was rarely observed, the gap effect (overlap minus gap reaction time) was additive with luminance, and only the brightest targets elicited saccades in the express range. When fixed locations and no catch trials were combined with latency feedback (Experiment 3), we observed many responses in the express saccade range and some evidence for bimodality, but the sudden introduction of catch trials revealed that many early responses were not under stimulus control. Humanscan make stimulus-controlled saccades that are initiated very rapidly (80–120 msec), but unless catch trials or choice reaction time is used, it is not possible to distinguish such saccades from anticipatory responses that are prepared in advance and timed to occur shortly after target onset. Because the express saccade diagnostic pattern is not a characteristic feature of human saccadic performance, we urge investigators to focus their attention on the robustgap effect
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boch, R., &Fischer, B. (1986). Further observations on the occurrence of express-saccades in the monkey.Experimental Brain Research,63, 487–494.
Boch, R., Fischer, B., &Ramsperger, E. (1984). Express-saccades of the monkey: Reaction times versus intensity, size, duration, and eccentricity oftheir targets.Experimental Brain Research,55, 223–231.
Braun, D., &Breitmever, B. G. (1988). Relationship between directed visual attention and saccadic reaction times.Experimental Brain Research,73, 546–552.
Braun, D., &Breitmever, B. G. (1990). Effects of reappearance of fixated and attended stimuli upon saccadic reaction time.Experimental Brain Research,81, 318–324.
edelman, J. A., & Heinen, S. J. (1991, May). Directional effects of the fixation-offset/target-onset gap on saccadic latency. Paper presented tothe Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Sarasota, FL.
Fendrich, R., Hughes, H. C., &Reuter-Lorenz, P. A. (1991). Fixation-point offsets reduce the latency of saccades to acoustic targets.Perception & Psychophysics,50, 383–387.
Findlay, J. M. (1981). Spatial and temporal factors in the predictive generation of saccadic eye movements.Vision Research,21, 347–354.
Fischer, B. (1987). The preparation ofvisually guided saccades.Reviews in Physiology, Biochemistry & Pharmocology,106, 1–35.
Fischer, B., &Boch, R. (1983). Saccadic eye movements after extremely short reaction times in the monkey.Experimental Brain Research,260, 21–26.
Fischer, B., &Boch, R. (1984). Express-saccades ofthe monkey: A new type of visually guided rapid eye movements after extremely short reaction times. In A. G. Gale & F. Johnson (Eds.),Theoretical and applied aspects of eye movement research (pp. 403–408).Amsterdam: North-Holland.
Fischer, B., &Breitmeyer, B. (1987). Mechanisms of visual attention revealed by saccadic eye movements.Neuropsychologia,25, 73–83.
Fischer, B., &Ramsperger, E. (1984). Human express saccades: Extremely short reaction times of goal directed movements.Erperimental Brain Research,57, 191–195.
Fischer, B., &Ramsperger, E. (1986). Human express-saccades: Effects of randomization and daily practice.Experimental Brain Research,64, 569–578.
Fischer, B., &Weber, H. (1990). Saccadic reaction times of dyslexic and age-matched normal subjects.Perception,19, 805–818.
Fischer, B., & Weber, H. (in press). Express saccades and visual attention. Behavioral & Brain Sciences.
Fischer, B., Weber, H., Biscaldi, M., Aiple, F., Otto, P., &Stuhr, V. (1993). Separate populations of visually guided saccades in humans: Reaction times and amplitudes.Experimental Brain Research,92, 528–541.
Flowers, K. A. (1978). The predictive control of behaviour: Appropriate and inappropriate actions beyond the input in a tracking task.Ergonomics,25, 176–191.
Guitton, D., Buchtel, H. A., &Douglas, R. M. (1985). Frontal lobe lesions in man cause difficulties in suppressing reflexive glances and in generating goal-directed saccades.Experimental Brain Research,58, 455–472.
Horrocks, A., &Stark, L. (1964). Experiments on error as a function of response time in horizontal eye movements (Quarterly Research Report No. 72, pp. 267–269). Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Research Laboratories in Electronics.
Jüttner, M., &Wolf, W. (1991). Human express saccades: Catch trials influence the probability of their occurrence. In R. Schmid & D. Zambarbieri (Eds.),Oculomotor control and cognitive processes (pp. 163–176). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Jüttner, M., &Wolf, W. (1992). Occurrence of human express saccades depends on stimulus uncertainty and stimulus sequence.Experimental Brain Research,89, 678–681.
Kalesnykas, R. P., &Hallett, P. E. (1987). The differentiation of visually guided and anticipatory saccades in gap and overlap paradigms.Experimental Brain Research,68, 115–121.
Kingstone, A., & Klein, R. M. (in press). Visual offsets facilitate saccadic latency: Does pre-disengagement of visuo-spatial attention mediate this gap effect?Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance.
Kingstone, A., & Klein, R. M. (1993).Visual offsets facilitate saccadic latency: There are two components to this gap effect. Manuscript in preparation.
Klein, R. M., & Kingstone, A. (in press). Why do visual offsets reduce saccadic latencies?Behavioral & Brain Sciences.
Kowler, E. (1990). The role of visual and cognitive processes in the control of eye movement. In E. Kowler (Ed.),Eye movements and their role in visual and cognitive processes (pp. 1–70). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Mayfrank, L., Mobashery, M., Kimmig, H., &Fischer, B. (1986). The role of fixation and visual attention in the occurrence of express saccades in man.European Archives of Psychiatry & Neurological Science,235, 269–275.
Munoz, D. P., &Wurtz, R. H. (1992). Role of the rostral superior colliculus in active visual fixation and execution of express saccades.Journal of Neurophysiology,67, 1000–1002.
Polidora, V. J., Ratoosh, P., &Westheimer, G. (1954). Precision of rhythmic responses of the oculomotor system.Perception & Motor Skills,7, 247–250.
Rabbitt, P. M. A. (1966). Errors and error correction in choice-response tasks.Journal of Experimental Psychology,71. 264–272.
Reulen, P. H. (1984a). Latency of visually evoked saccadic eye movements: I. Saccadic latency and the facilitation model.Biological Cybernetics,50, 251–262.
Reulen, P. H. (1984b). Latency of visually evoked saccadic eye movements: II. Temporal properties of the facilitation mechanism.Biological Cybernetics,50, 263–271.
Reuter-Lorenz, P. A., Hughes, H. C., &Fendrich, R. (1991). The reduction of saccadic latency by prior offset of the fixation point: An analysis of the gap effect.Perception & Psychophysics,49, 167–175.
Ross, L. E., &Ross, S. M. (1980). Saccade latency and warning signals: Stimulus onset, offset, and change as warning events.Perception & Psychophysics,27, 251–257.
Ross, S. M., &Ross, L. E. (1981). Saccade latency and warning signals: Effects of auditory and visual stimulus onset and offset.Perception & Psychophysics,29, 429–437.
Saslow, M. G. (1967). Effects of components of displacement-step stimuli upon latency for saccadic eye movement.Journal of the Optical Society of America,57, 1024–1029.
Schiller, P. H., Sandell, J. H., &Maunsell, J. R. (1987). The effect of frontal eye field and superior colliculus lesions on saccadic latencies in the rhesus monkey.Journal of Neurophysiology,57, 1033–1049.
Snodgrass, J. G. (1969). Foreperiod effects in simple reaction time: Anticipation or expectancy?Journal of Experimental Psychology Monographs,79(3, Pt. 2), 1–19.
Snodgrass, J. G., Luce, R. D., &Galanter, E. (1967). Some experiments on simple and choice reaction time.Journal of Experimental Psychology,75, 1–17.
Stark, L., Vossius, G., &Young, L. R. (1961). Predictive control of eye tracking movements.IRE Transactions on Human Factors Electronics,HFE-3, 52–57.
Wenban-Smith, M. G., &Findlay, J. M. (1991). Express saccades: Is there a separate population in humans?Experimental Brain Research,87, 218–222.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
This research was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Operating Grant to R.M.K. and a Fellowship Award to AK.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kingstone, A., Klein, R.M. What are human express saccades?. Perception & Psychophysics 54, 260–273 (1993). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03211762
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03211762