An algorithm separating saccadic from nonsaccadic eye movements automatically by use of the acceleration signal

An algorithm is described to discriminate automatically between saccades and slow eye movements. Sampled data of the eye position have been used to calculate the momentary acceleration of the eye. The higher acceleration values of the saccadic eye movements as opposed to the slow compensatory or pursuit eye movements served to differentiate between the two. The method is demonstrated by search-coil data in squirrel monkeys.