Neural mechanisms of saccadic suppression.
A. Thiele, P. Henning, M. Kubischik & K.-P. Hoffman
Science, 295: 2460-2462, 2002
- In normal vision our gaze leaps from detail to detail, resulting in rapid
image motion across the retina. Yet we are unaware of such motion, a phenomenon known as saccadic suppression.
We recorded neural activity in the middle temporal and middle superior temporal cortical areas during saccades
and identical image motion under passive viewing conditions. Some neurons were selectively silenced during saccadic
image motion, but responded well to identical external image motion. In addition, a subpopulation of neurons reversed
their preferred direction of motion during saccades. Consequently, oppositely directed motion signals annul one
another, and motion percepts are suppressed.
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