Microsaccades Keep the Eyes' Balance During Fixation

Authors: Engbert R.; Kliegl R.

Source: Psychological Science, Volume 15, Number 6, June 2004 , pp. 431-436(6)

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Abstract:

During fixation of a stationary target, small involuntary eye movements exhibit an erratic trajectory—a random walk. Two types of these fixational eye movements are drift and microsaccades (small-amplitude saccades). We investigated fixational eye movements and binocular coordination using a statistical analysis that had previously been applied to human posture control. This random-walk analysis uncovered two different time scales in fixational eye movements and identified specific functions for microsaccades. On a short time scale, microsaccades enhanced perception by increasing fixation errors. On a long time scale, microsaccades reduced fixation errors and binocular disparity (relative to pure drift movements). Thus, our findings clarify the role of oculomotor processes during fixation.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00697.x

Affiliations: 1: University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

Publication date: 2004-06-01