The predictability of saccadic latency in a novel voluntary oculomotor task

Abstract When a subject makes a voluntary saccade to a goal, which is opposite and equal to the stimulus step (“anti” task), the mean and standard deviation of latency are predictable from the latencies of the conventional “normal” task. There is no significant improvement with practice. In each of 8 subjects normal task latency is the sum of a relatively fixed delay of apparent value 144 msec (true value probably less), plus a very variable idiosyncratic delay. A simple model is applied to the “anti” task, the Wheeless 2-step task and forewarning. While the saccadic system shows great flexibility in its choice of goal, it is rather stereotyped in timing.

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