Abstract
During visual fixation, our eyes are not entirely still. Instead, small eye movements, such as microsaccades, can be observed. We here investigate what determines the direction and frequency of these microsaccades, as this information might help to clarify what purpose they serve. The relative contribution of three possible factors was examined: (1) the orienting of covert attention, (2) the spatial distribution of possible target locations, and (3) whether monocular or binocular microsaccades are considered. The orienting of covert attention and the distribution of possible target locations had a relatively weak effect on microsaccade rates and directions. In contrast, the classification of micro-saccades as binocular (occurring in both eyes simultaneously) or monocular (observed in one eye only) strongly affected both the rate and the direction of microsaccades. The results are discussed in the context of existing findings.
Highlights
In our day to day life we constantly make eye movements to bring objects of interest onto the fovea
Monocular rates in this table refer to eye movements occurring in one eye uniquely
This study, focused on saccadic intrusions, which tend to be of relatively large amplitude, and additional research would be required to determine whether these findings extend to fixational eye movements of smaller amplitudes
Summary
In our day to day life we constantly make eye movements to bring objects of interest onto the fovea. Even during visual fixation, the eye makes small movements One of these fixational eye movements has properties similar to those of the large saccadic eye movements that shift eye gaze from one object to another. These fixational saccades are known as microsaccades (Kowler & Steinman, 1980; MartinezConde, 2006; Martinez-Conde, Macknik, Troncoso, & Hubel, 2009; Rolfs, 2009; Steinman, Haddad, Skavenski, & Wyman, 1973). It has been suggested that microsaccades prevent the fading of the retinal image (e.g., Martinez-Conde, Macknik, Troncoso, & Dyar, 2006) and improve spatial accuracy
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