Effect of visual input in motor programs of saccades

The aim of this research is to verify whether motor programs of eye movements are modified by visual input. The experiments were carried out on one monkey (Macaca nemestrina) trained to track targets. The eye movements were recorded in darkness, under laboratory lighting and between targets. Three types of velocity patterns were identified: symmetrical, asymmetrical and irregular. From the statistical analysis, no substantial differences in distribution are present between darkness (no visual stimuli) and laboratory light (visual stimuli). In the target situation, the irregular pattern is totally absent. This suggest that visual input modifies motor programs, but probably only if it has an attentional meaning for the animal.