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Inferring visual space from ultra-fine extra-retinal knowledge of gaze position

Author

Listed:
  • Zhetuo Zhao

    (University of Rochester
    University of Rochester)

  • Ehud Ahissar

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Jonathan D. Victor

    (Weill Cornell Medical College)

  • Michele Rucci

    (University of Rochester
    University of Rochester)

Abstract

It has long been debated how humans resolve fine details and perceive a stable visual world despite the incessant fixational motion of their eyes. Current theories assume these processes to rely solely on the visual input to the retina, without contributions from motor and/or proprioceptive sources. Here we show that contrary to this widespread assumption, the visual system has access to high-resolution extra-retinal knowledge of fixational eye motion and uses it to deduce spatial relations. Building on recent advances in gaze-contingent display control, we created a spatial discrimination task in which the stimulus configuration was entirely determined by oculomotor activity. Our results show that humans correctly infer geometrical relations in the absence of spatial information on the retina and accurately combine high-resolution extraretinal monitoring of gaze displacement with retinal signals. These findings reveal a sensory-motor strategy for encoding space, in which fine oculomotor knowledge is used to interpret the fixational input to the retina.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhetuo Zhao & Ehud Ahissar & Jonathan D. Victor & Michele Rucci, 2023. "Inferring visual space from ultra-fine extra-retinal knowledge of gaze position," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-35834-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35834-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James M. McFarland & Adrian G. Bondy & Richard C. Saunders & Bruce G. Cumming & Daniel A. Butts, 2015. "Saccadic modulation of stimulus processing in primary visual cortex," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Janis Intoy & Michele Rucci, 2020. "Finely tuned eye movements enhance visual acuity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Ikuya Murakami & Patrick Cavanagh, 1998. "A jitter after-effect reveals motion-based stabilization of vision," Nature, Nature, vol. 395(6704), pages 798-801, October.
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