Dynamic characteristics of saccadic eye movements in the albino rat

Using the magnetic search coil technique it was shown that the rat made saccadic eye movements spontaneously. Most saccades were horizontal. Although their amplitude was usually less than 10 degrees (deg.), the peak velocity could reach 400 deg/s. The peak velocity increased as a linear function of the amplitude at a rate comparable to that in the monkey and higher than in other species. Only a weak correlation between saccade and neck electromyogram (EMG) activity was observed.