Effect of stimulus probability on anti-saccade error rates

Exp Brain Res. 2004 Nov;159(2):268-72. doi: 10.1007/s00221-004-2104-x. Epub 2004 Sep 30.

Abstract

Subjects sometimes fail to suppress a reflexive saccade towards the flashed stimulus in an anti-saccade task. Here, we studied how error rates in the anti-saccade task varied as a function of saccadic probability. Ten subjects performed 200 anti-saccade trials for each of three saccade-direction probability conditions (20%, 50%, and 80%). We found that as the likelihood of a saccade in a given direction increased, the percentage of pro-saccade errors also increased for stimulus presentations in this direction. These results provide support for the hypothesis that errors in the anti-saccade task are the result of an increased level of motor preparation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Neurological
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Observer Variation
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Probability*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Saccades / physiology*
  • Volition / physiology*