Document Detail


The spatial scale of attention strongly modulates saccade latencies.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18234988     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We have previously shown that when a stimulus consisting of two concentric rings moves, saccade latencies are much longer (by 150 ms) when attention is directed to the larger ring than to the smaller ring. Here, we investigated whether this effect can be explained by a deferral of the "cost" of making a saccade while the target remains inside the attentional field, or by purely visual factors (eccentricity or contrast). We found 1) latencies were shorter when attention was directed to small features irrespective of retinal eccentricity; 2) saccade latency distributions were systematically determined by the ratio between the amplitude of the stimulus step and the diameter of the attended ring: stimulus steps that were larger than the attended ring resulted in short latencies, whereas steps smaller than the attended ring resulted in proportionally longer and more variable latencies; 3) this effect was not seen in manual reaction times to the same target movement; and 4) suprathreshold changes in the contrast of targets, mimicking possible attentional effects on perceived contrast and saliency, had little effect on latency. We argue that the spatial scale of attention determines the urgency of saccade motor preparation processes by changing the rate and rate variability of the underlying decision signal, to defer the cost of saccades that result in little visual benefit.
Authors:
Mark R Harwood; Laurent Madelain; Richard J Krauzlis; Josh Wallman
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2008-01-30
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of neurophysiology     Volume:  99     ISSN:  0022-3077     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Neurophysiol.     Publication Date:  2008 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-04-10     Completed Date:  2008-06-17     Revised Date:  2011-09-26    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375404     Medline TA:  J Neurophysiol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1743-57     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, City College of New York, City University of New York, Convent Avenue at 138th St., New York, NY 10031, USA. mharwood@sci.ccny.cuny.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Attention / physiology*
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Decision Making / physiology
Female
Humans
Likelihood Functions
Male
Middle Aged
Photic Stimulation
Psychomotor Performance / physiology
Reaction Time / physiology
Saccades / physiology*
Visual Fields / physiology
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
EY-12212/EY/NEI NIH HHS; G12 RR003060-200034/RR/NCRR NIH HHS; G12 RR003060-210041/RR/NCRR NIH HHS; G12 RR003060-220041/RR/NCRR NIH HHS; G12 RR003060-236701/RR/NCRR NIH HHS; G12 RR003060-245457/RR/NCRR NIH HHS; GR065025M//Wellcome Trust; R01 EY012212-07/EY/NEI NIH HHS; RR-03060/RR/NCRR NIH HHS
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