We have a new preprint about stimulus-specific modulations of ocular position drift!

This is a very exciting discovery of a new effect whereby the presentation of a visual transient can systematically alter drift dynamics by inducing a general “upward” movement of the eyes. The alteration in gaze position is in the order of 1 minute of arc (about 10 folds smaller than microsaccades) and it is sensitive to stimulus content. These modulations are visible during fixation in complete absence of (micro)saccades. Interestingly the upward drift happens exactly in the same time-window where saccadic inhibition is normally observed, about 60 to 120 ms after the onset of the visual stimulus.

The results give strong insights about possible control mechanisms of one of the smallest eye movement types. Go and check out our paper here!