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

JE Roberts MSc and AJ Wilkins Dphil – University of Essex

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 degrees amplitude in an otherwise dark room 
(<1lux). 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 1.98kHz. At a 
frequency of 120Hz the intrasaccadic pattern was perceptible when the contrast of the 
flicker exceeded 10%. It is possible that intrasaccadic stimulation interferes with ocular 
motor control.  

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