Perisaccadic perceptual mislocalization is different for upward saccades.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Visual Perception
• Oculomotor Research

Background:

• Saccadic eye movements cause significant retinal image changes.
• Perceptual alterations during saccades are studied to understand visual stability mechanisms.
• Previous research primarily focused on horizontal saccades.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate how saccade direction influences perisaccadic perceptual alterations.
• Explore differences in perception for upward saccades compared to other directions.
• Examine the role of superior colliculus asymmetries in visual perception.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral experiments involving saccadic eye movements.
• Stimulus localization tasks around the time of saccades.
• Comparison of perceptual alterations across different saccade directions and visual field locations.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in perisaccadic perception were found for upward saccades.
• Perceptual alterations varied for upper versus lower visual field locations, even during horizontal saccades.
• Results suggest asymmetric neural representations in structures like the superior colliculus.

Conclusions:

• Perisaccadic perceptual alterations are influenced by saccade direction.
• Asymmetries in neural maps, such as in the superior colliculus, play a critical role.
• Understanding these asymmetries is key to explaining perceptual stability during eye movements.