Oculomotor activity and visual spatial attention

Examined the influences of saccadic programming on attentional control during presentation of light targets at peripheral locations just before and just after the execution of voluntary horizontal or vertical saccades (SCDs) in 3 experiments. Data from a total of 32 21-36 yr olds indicate that simple manual reaction time (RT) for the detection of light targets at extrafoveal locations was modulated by the intention to make the SCD because RT to targets presented at the saccadic goal location or in the hemifield containing that location was faster than RT to targets presented at the opposite, mirror-symmetric location. This RT difference was maximal prior to the beginning of the SCD and vanished after SCD termination, indicating that the effect was caused by the neural activity leading to the SCD rather than to the eye movement or the eye position. Results are discussed in terms of the relations between visual spatial attention and oculomotor control. ((c) 1997 APA/PsycINFO, all rights reserved