Flicker can be perceived during saccades at frequencies in excess of 1 kHz

Abstract

When driving at night, flickering automobile LED tail lights can appear as multiple images. The perception of a flickering source of light was therefore studied during rapid eye movements (saccades) of 20–40° amplitude in an otherwise dark room (<1 lux). The temporal modulation appeared as a spatial pattern known as a ‘phantom array’ during the saccade. The appearance of the pattern enabled the discrimination of flicker from steady light at frequencies that in 11 observers averaged 1.98 kHz. At a frequency of 120 Hz, the intrasaccadic pattern was perceptible when the contrast of the flicker exceeded 10%. It is possible that intrasaccadic stimulation interferes with ocular motor control.