Audio-ocular response: saccadic programming.

Abstract

The eye movements elicited by auditory stimuli--the audio-ocular response (AOR)--differ from those made in response to a visual target. The movements consist of both monosaccadic and multiple saccadic refixations (MSR). In visual refixation, monosaccadic refixations are always accurate; in AOR, they rarely are. In MSR, many strategies were used in the attempt to find the target but they were not always successful. However, final amplitudes of the total refixation were quite accurate in both MSR and monosaccadic refixations. Velocity profiles of the AOR showed such anomalies as discrete decelerations and multiple, closely-spaced saccades. These data suggest that, without visual feedback, the location of acoustic targets is difficult. In the absence of visual afference, when vigilance may be decreased by the lack of arousal, the velocity profiles also became abnormal, even at small amplitudes. Thus, for cockpit warning devices, a combination of auditory and visual indicators should be used.