Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026
06:12
Recording Horizontal Saccade Performances Accurately in Neurological Patients Using Electro-oculogram
Published on: March 13, 2018
11.1K
Difference between vertical and horizontal saccades across the human lifespan.
Elizabeth L Irving1, Linda Lillakas1
1School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Experimental Eye Research
|September 2, 2018
Summary
This study reveals that vertical saccade accuracy varies with age and stimulus size, with downward saccades showing higher gains that increase with age. Vertical saccades are generally less accurate and slower than horizontal ones, especially for larger amplitudes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Human Lifespan Studies
Background:
- Saccades are rapid eye movements crucial for visual processing.
- Understanding age-related changes in vertical saccade parameters is vital for diagnosing visual and neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze vertical saccade parameters (latency, peak velocity, amplitude gain) across the human lifespan.
- To compare vertical saccade parameters with those of horizontal saccades.
- To investigate age-related differences in saccadic function.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 131 participants aged 3 to 86 years.
- Recorded binocular eye movements using the El-Mar eye tracker during vertical and horizontal prosaccade tasks.
- Calculated saccadic latency, peak velocity, and amplitude gain, analyzing differences based on direction, age, and stimulus size.
Main Results:
- Downward saccades exhibited significantly higher amplitude gains than upward saccades, with this difference increasing with age.
- Vertical saccadic latency showed a U-shaped pattern with age, decreasing in youth and increasing in older adults.
- Vertical saccades had longer latencies and lower peak velocities compared to horizontal saccades, particularly in young children, with variations influenced by age and stimulus size.
Conclusions:
- Vertical saccade parameters are significantly influenced by age and stimulus characteristics, with notable differences compared to horizontal saccades.
- Age-related changes in vertical saccade accuracy and speed may reflect developmental and senescence processes in the visual system and brain.
- The findings highlight the importance of considering age and saccade direction in the assessment of visual-motor control.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Vertical Curve: Problem Solving
509
Vertical curves provide the transition between two roadway grades, ensuring safety, comfort, and functionality. Calculating elevations at specific stations along the curve involves several systematic steps based on the curve's geometry and provided design parameters.The vertical curve is defined by its length, grades, Point of Vertical Intersection (P.V.I.) location, and P.V.I. elevation. The stations of the Point of Vertical Curvature (P.V.C.), where the curve begins, and the Point of Vertical...
509
01:19Introduction to Horizontal Curves
714
Horizontal curves are essential in highway and railroad design, ensuring smooth and safe transitions between straight path segments, or tangents. These curves allow vehicles to maintain speed without abrupt changes, minimizing accidents and improving travel efficiency.A horizontal curve is typically defined by its geometric relationship to two tangents that meet at an intersection point (P.I.), where a simple curve is introduced to connect them. The back tangent refers to the initial tangent...
714
01:03Horizontal Curve: Problem Solving
400
A horizontal curve is characterized by its radius, intersection angle, and stationing of key points. In this case, the radius is 400 meters, and the angle of intersection is 30 degrees, with the station of the point of curvature (P.C.) at 0 + 150 meters. The goal is to determine the station values at the point of intersection (P.I.), point of tangency (P.T.), and midpoint of the curve, as well as the length of the long chord.The process begins with calculating the tangent distance (T) and the...
400
01:27Horizontal Gene Transfer
2.2K
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a process where genetic material moves between organisms within the same generation, unlike vertical gene transfer, which occurs from parent to offspring. HGT plays a crucial role in microbial evolution, adaptation, and survival, particularly in shared environments like the human gut.Mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, prophages, integrons, insertion sequences, and transposons facilitate this process. HGT occurs through three primary mechanisms:...
2.2K
01:24Introduction to Vertical Curves
607
Vertical curves are parabolic transitions that connect different grades on highways and railroads, ensuring a smooth alignment between back and forward tangents. The back tangent represents the initial grade, while the forward tangent defines the subsequent grade. These curves can be symmetrical, with equal tangent lengths, or nonsymmetrical, with varying lengths. The key points defining a vertical curve include the Point of Vertical Intersection (P.V.I.), where the tangents meet; the Point of...
607
01:16Shear on the Horizontal Face of a Beam Element
531
To understand shear on the flat side of a prismatic beam element, consider the vertical and horizontal shearing forces, and the normal forces, acting on the element. The element's upper (U) and lower (L) sections, which are divided by the beam's neutral axis, are examined. The equilibrium of these forces is determined by applying the equilibrium equation, which helps identify the horizontal shearing force. This force is directly related to the bending moments and the cross-section's...
531