The Sources of Variability in Saccadic Eye Movements

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2311-07.2007
• Publication Date: 2007-08-15T16:53:00Z
• Authors: Robert J. van Beers
• Keywords: Motor Control

Our movements are variable, but the origin of this variability is poorly understood. We examined sources in human saccadic eye movements. In two experiments, we measured spatiotemporal saccade trajectories as a function movement direction and amplitude. One our new observations that smaller for purely horizontal vertical saccades than oblique directions. also found amplitude, duration, peak velocity all correlated with one another. To determine observed variability, estimated noise motor commands from while taking into account resulting uncertainty localization target. This analysis revealed target major source endpoints, whereas magnitude explains slightly fraction. addition, there temporal such longer average duration have velocity. model has large generality because it correctly predicts other data sets, which contain starting very different initial locations. Because most likely originates planning, command execution, conclude sensory signals planning execution contribute to trajectories. These results important understanding how brain controls movement.