Time course of localization for a repeatedly flashing stimulus presented at perisaccadic timing

When a light spot is flashed repeatedly during saccade, a dotted line called a phantom array (PA) is perceived. When light spots are placed on a vertical line and the flashing pattern is changed quickly during saccade, the flashing pattern is expanded to a spatial pattern by the effect of eye movement, and a two-dimensional image is perceived. The authors have proposed a visual information presentation method based on this phenomenon. A crucial issue in information presentation by this method is the time relation between the perceived PA and the eye movement. Consequently, this study examines the time relation between the perception and the eye movement. The time course of perceived position for repeatedly flashing stimulus is investigated by presenting light spots in the vertical position. It is found that the locus of the perceived light spot starts to curve at the start of saccade in the direction opposite to the saccade, and returns to the vertical direction when the saccade ends. It differs from the locus of the light spot which is expected in accordance with cancellation theory. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 36(9): 77–86, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10690