Consequences of eye movements for spatial selectivity.

What determines spatial tuning in the visual system? Standard views rely on the assumption that spatial information is directly inherited from the relative position of photoreceptors and shaped by neuronal connectivity. However, human eyes are always in motion during fixation, so retinal neurons receive temporal modulations that depend on the interaction of the spatial structure of the stimulus with eye movements. It has long been hypothesized that these modulations might contribute to spatial encoding, a proposal supported by several recent observations.

Eye blinks as a visual processing stage.

Humans blink their eyes frequently during normal viewing, more often than it seems necessary for keeping the cornea well lubricated. Since the closure of the eyelid disrupts the image on the retina, eye blinks are commonly assumed to be detrimental to visual processing. However, blinks also provide luminance transients rich in spatial information to neural pathways highly sensitive to temporal changes.

High-resolution eye-tracking via digital imaging of Purkinje reflections.

Reliably measuring eye movements and determining where the observer looks are fundamental needs in vision science. A classical approach to achieve high-resolution oculomotor measurements is the so-called dual Purkinje image (DPI) method, a technique that relies on the relative motion of the reflections generated by two distinct surfaces in the eye, the cornea and the back of the lens. This technique has been traditionally implemented in fragile and difficult to operate analog devices, which have remained exclusive use of specialized oculomotor laboratories.

Cognitive influences on fixational eye movements.

We perceive the world based on visual information acquired via oculomotor control, an activity intertwined with ongoing cognitive processes. Cognitive influences have been primarily studied in the context of macroscopic movements, like saccades and smooth pursuits. However, our eyes are never still, even during periods of fixation.

Eye drift during fixation predicts visual acuity.

Visual acuity is commonly assumed to be determined by the eye optics and spatial sampling in the retina. Unlike a camera, however, the eyes are never stationary during the acquisition of visual information; a jittery motion known as ocular drift incessantly displaces stimuli over many photoreceptors. Previous studies have shown that acuity is impaired in the absence of retinal image motion caused by eye drift.

Fast and nonuniform dynamics of perisaccadic vision in the central fovea.

Humans use rapid eye movements (saccades) to inspect stimuli with the foveola, the region of the retina where receptors are most densely packed. It is well established that visual sensitivity is generally attenuated during these movements, a phenomenon known as saccadic suppression. This effect is commonly studied with large, often peripheral, stimuli presented during instructed saccades.

Accuracy and precision of small saccades.

Despite recent advances on the mechanisms and purposes of fine oculomotor behavior, a rigorous assessment of the precision and accuracy of the smallest saccades is still lacking. Yet knowledge of how effectively these movements shift gaze is necessary for understanding their functions and is helpful in further elucidating their motor underpinnings. Using a combination of high-resolution eye-tracking and gaze-contingent control, here we examined the accuracy and precision of saccades aimed toward targets ranging from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] eccentricity.

Spatiotemporal Content of Saccade Transients.

Humans use rapid gaze shifts, known as saccades, to explore visual scenes. These movements yield abrupt luminance changes on the retina, which elicit robust neural discharges at fixation onsets. Yet little is known about the spatial content of saccade transients.

Finely tuned eye movements enhance visual acuity.

High visual acuity is essential for many tasks, from recognizing distant friends to driving a car. While much is known about how the eye's optics and anatomy contribute to spatial resolution, possible influences from eye movements are rarely considered. Yet humans incessantly move their eyes, and it has long been suggested that oculomotor activity enhances fine pattern vision.

Visual attractiveness is leaky: the asymmetrical relationship between face and hair.

Predicting personality is crucial when communicating with people. It has been revealed that the perceived attractiveness or beauty of the face is a cue. As shown in the well-known "what is beautiful is good" stereotype, perceived attractiveness is often associated with desirable personality.