Foveating saccades

A review of the literature revealed that foveating saccades were found to be faster than other fast eye movements (FEMs) except optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) quick phase. In the present experiment, foveating saccades were compared to OKN quick phase in humans and were found to have higher maximum speeds and shorter durations. Unlike previous experiments, foveating saccades were made to targets at unpredictable distances, and active pursuit during OKN was discouraged. Previously reported differences between the speeds of foveating saccades and saccades to remembered target positions were replicated. Foveating saccades, therefore, can be distinguished from other FEMs on the basis of speed. This behavioral difference suggests that a distinctive mechanism exists for foveating targets.