Abstract
Purpose: Low but not high spatial frequencies are suppressed during saccades (Burr et al., J. Physiol. 1982), probably because of selective suppression of the magnocellular pathway (Burr et al., Nature 1994). Here we investigate further the mechanisms for the suppression, using masking techniques. Methods: Contrast sensitivity for horizontally oriented test grating patches of low spatial frequency (0.07 c/deg) was measured in the presence of continuously displayed, randomly jittering mask gratings of variable contrast and spatial frequency, using a forced-choice procedure. The test gratings were presented briefly (8 ms) during normal vision and during large horizontal saccades. Results: Sensitivity decreased with mask contrast, with a similar (near linear) dependency during normal viewing and during saccades. For both normal and saccadic viewing, maximum reduction in sensitivity occurred when the mask had the same spatial frequency as that of the test (0.07 c/deg), at all levels of mask contrast. Conclusions: That maximum masking occurs at the same spatial frequency of the test implies that mechanisms selective to low spatial frequencies are not totally suppressed during saccades, but continue to operate with reduced sensitivity. This result fits well with the acceleration of the impulse response for luminance but not for chromatic stimuli during saccades (Burr and Morrone, Vision Res. 1996), that may result from gain changes in the magnocellular pathway during saccades.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 15 1996 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
Cite this
Spatial frequency selectivity during saccadic eye movements revealed by masking. / Burr, David; Baldassi, Stefano; Marconi, Barbara; Morrone, Concetta.
In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 37, No. 3, 15.02.1996.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial frequency selectivity during saccadic eye movements revealed by masking
AU - Burr, David
AU - Baldassi, Stefano
AU - Marconi, Barbara
AU - Morrone, Concetta
PY - 1996/2/15
Y1 - 1996/2/15
N2 - Purpose: Low but not high spatial frequencies are suppressed during saccades (Burr et al., J. Physiol. 1982), probably because of selective suppression of the magnocellular pathway (Burr et al., Nature 1994). Here we investigate further the mechanisms for the suppression, using masking techniques. Methods: Contrast sensitivity for horizontally oriented test grating patches of low spatial frequency (0.07 c/deg) was measured in the presence of continuously displayed, randomly jittering mask gratings of variable contrast and spatial frequency, using a forced-choice procedure. The test gratings were presented briefly (8 ms) during normal vision and during large horizontal saccades. Results: Sensitivity decreased with mask contrast, with a similar (near linear) dependency during normal viewing and during saccades. For both normal and saccadic viewing, maximum reduction in sensitivity occurred when the mask had the same spatial frequency as that of the test (0.07 c/deg), at all levels of mask contrast. Conclusions: That maximum masking occurs at the same spatial frequency of the test implies that mechanisms selective to low spatial frequencies are not totally suppressed during saccades, but continue to operate with reduced sensitivity. This result fits well with the acceleration of the impulse response for luminance but not for chromatic stimuli during saccades (Burr and Morrone, Vision Res. 1996), that may result from gain changes in the magnocellular pathway during saccades.
AB - Purpose: Low but not high spatial frequencies are suppressed during saccades (Burr et al., J. Physiol. 1982), probably because of selective suppression of the magnocellular pathway (Burr et al., Nature 1994). Here we investigate further the mechanisms for the suppression, using masking techniques. Methods: Contrast sensitivity for horizontally oriented test grating patches of low spatial frequency (0.07 c/deg) was measured in the presence of continuously displayed, randomly jittering mask gratings of variable contrast and spatial frequency, using a forced-choice procedure. The test gratings were presented briefly (8 ms) during normal vision and during large horizontal saccades. Results: Sensitivity decreased with mask contrast, with a similar (near linear) dependency during normal viewing and during saccades. For both normal and saccadic viewing, maximum reduction in sensitivity occurred when the mask had the same spatial frequency as that of the test (0.07 c/deg), at all levels of mask contrast. Conclusions: That maximum masking occurs at the same spatial frequency of the test implies that mechanisms selective to low spatial frequencies are not totally suppressed during saccades, but continue to operate with reduced sensitivity. This result fits well with the acceleration of the impulse response for luminance but not for chromatic stimuli during saccades (Burr and Morrone, Vision Res. 1996), that may result from gain changes in the magnocellular pathway during saccades.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0012022070&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0012022070
VL - 37
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
SN - 0146-0404
IS - 3
ER -