Timing variability of repetitive saccadic eye movements

We assessed the suitability of using the Wing and Kristofferson model for timing repetitive motor responses to analyse timing variability during repetitive saccadic eye movements. The model decomposes total timing variability (TV) into a central timing component (CV) and a peripheral motor delay component (MV). Eight normal subjects made voluntary horizontal saccades, in darkness, in synchrony with a regular auditory metronome. After 20 saccades had been produced, the metronome was switched off and subjects continued responding at the same frequency until 31 further saccades had been made. Inter-saccade intervals (ISIs) from the unpaced phase were used to calculate TV, CV and MV. Three different target intervals, paced by auditory cues, were used – 496 ms, 752 ms and 1000 ms. In the paced phase, subjects’ ISIs closely matched the auditory cue intervals. In the unpaced phase, subjects were clearly able to respond at three different frequencies. As predicted by the Wing and Kristofferson model, the durations of successive ISIs tended to be negatively correlated. As expected, TV and CV increased with increasing ISI. Contrary to the expectation of the model that MV would remain constant, we found that it increased with increasing interval. Our results do not conclusively demonstrate the validity of applying the Wing and Kristofferson model to the analysis of timing variability during repetitive saccadic eye movements. However, comparison with previous studies shows that, at least in normal subjects, it is equally valid to apply the model to the analysis of repetitive saccadic eye movements as it is to apply it to the analysis of data from other effectors.