Research article summary (published 7 Sep 2006):

An internal clock generates repetitive predictive saccades.

Full Abstract

Previously we demonstrated the presence of a behavioral phase transition between reactive and predictive eye tracking of alternating targets. Prior studies of repetitive movements have proposed that an "internal clock" is the neural mechanism by which interval timing is achieved. In the present report we tested whether predictive oculomotor (saccade) tracking is based on an internal time reference (clock) by examining the effect of transient perturbations to the periodic pacing stimulus. These perturbations consisted of altering the timing of the stimulus (abruptly increasing or decreasing the inter-stimulus interval) or extinguishing the targets altogether. Although reactive tracking (at low pacing rates) was greatly affected by these timing perturbations, once predictive tracking was established subjects continued to time their eye movement responses at the pre-existing rate despite the perturbation. As expected from certain clock models, inter-stimulus intervals for predictive tracking followed Weber's law and the scalar property (timing variability increases in proportion to interval duration), but this was not true for reactive tracking. In addition, the perturbation results show that subjects can establish an internal representation of target pacing (the internal clock) in as little as two eye-movement intervals, which suggests that this mechanism is relevant for real-world situations. These findings are consistent with the presence of an internal clock for the generation of these predictive movements, and demonstrate that the neural mechanism responsible for this behavior is temporally accurate and flexible.

Author information

Author/s: Joiner, Wilsaan M (WM); Shelhamer, Mark (M);

Affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue/606 Traylor Bldg, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. wjoiner(-atsign-)bme.jhu.edu

Grants: EY015193 (Agency:NEI NIH HHS) ; T32-MH20069 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Expérimentation cérébrale (Exp Brain Res), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Nov; vol 175 (issue 2) : pp 305-20

Dates: Created 2006/10/20; Completed 2007/05/15; Revised 2008/02/15;

PMID: 16964491, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Humans Models, Neurological Motion Perception - physiology Photic Stimulation Predictive Value of Tests

Psychomotor Performance Pursuit, Smooth - physiology Reaction Time - physiology Saccades - physiology Time Perception - physiology

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