Is saccade preparation required for inhibition of return (IOR)?

Neurosci Lett. 2018 Feb 5:665:13-17. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.11.035. Epub 2017 Nov 22.

Abstract

The effect of slower responses to validly than invalidly cued targets is known as inhibition of return (IOR). Opposing accounts of IOR have been proposed: one postulates a singular phenomenon explained by oculomotor mechanisms alone, while the other, more diverse account postulates both perceptual-cognitive and motor factors. In our research we considered the relation between motor programming and IOR. In an extended replication of an earlier study, using an eye abduction technique we restricted eye movement in the temporal half-space; this resulted in IOR attenuation in that area, compared to the unrestricted, nasal part of the visual field. Our results contradict the earlier result and demonstrate that IOR does depend on preparation of eye movement, as predicted by the oculomotor priming hypothesis.

Keywords: Cuing; Exogenous attention; Eye dominance; Eye movement; Inhibition of return; Premotor theory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention
  • Cues
  • Female
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Reaction Time
  • Saccades / physiology*
  • Young Adult