D. Sparks et al., The role of the superior colliculus in saccade initiation: a study of express saccades and the gap effect, VISION RES, 40(20), 2000, pp. 2763-2777
Neural mechanisms underlying the initiation of saccadic eye movements were
studied by recording the activity of neurons in the superior colliculus of
rhesus monkeys that had extensive experience on the gap task using targets
restricted to one visual field. The superposition of visual activation upon
the increased excitability occurring on gap trials facilitates the occurre
nce of a motor burst with extremely short latency; the motor burst is tight
ly coupled to saccade onset for the full range of saccadic reactions times,
both regular and express. We found no evidence that express saccades are a
special class of saccades triggered directly by visual responses. The low
frequency activity, necessary for the occurrence of express saccades, neith
er initiates express saccades nor serves as an accurate predictor of the di
rection or latency of saccades. Based upon these findings, the hypothesis t
hat the motor burst of collicular neurons serves as a signal for triggering
saccade onset can now be extended to express saccades. (C) 2000 Elsevier S
cience Ltd. All rights reserved.