Saccadic Suppression*,†

Abstract

A shift of the peak of the Stiles–Crawford effect suggests that saccades shear the retina. This action appears to lead to an increase of the retinal activity of a real-light background. Thus, thresholds following a saccade are raised the most for test wavelengths which are most similar to the adapting-field wavelength. If the adapting field is eliminated, saccadic suppression is reduced. Saccades also affect the customary rises of thresholds found near the onset and extinction of the adapting field. This effect is as if the retinal feedback loop underlying adaptation is disrupted by the saccade.