Characteristics of saccades and vergence in two kinds of sequential looking tasks

Abstract

We determined how saccades were used in the experiments described in Epelboim, Steinman, Kowler, Edwards, Pizlo, Erkelens and Collewijn (1995) [Vision Research, 35, 3401-3422], where unrestrained subjects looked at or tapped nearby targets. We report: (i) the size of binocular saccades; (ii) how well saccade size matched in the two eyes; and (iii) saccadic vergence. A representative sample (3375 saccades) was measured: 83% were <15 degrees, 53% were <5 degrees. Only two were 'microsaccades'. Saccade sizes were very similar in the two eyes. These results imply that subjects prefer avoiding large saccades. They can do this simply by re-orienting the head appropriately. Subjects under-verged by 25-35% and preformed well. None experienced diplopia.