Distortion of Visual Space During Pursuit Eye Movements

We measured perceived positions of flash stimuli arranged two-dimensionally in the peripheral visual field during pursuit eye movement to examine the influence of displacement of the eye position on localization in the peripheral visual field. The horizontal mislocalization of the flash stimulus during the horizontal pursuit eye movement was found toward the pursuit direction. The magnitude of this mislocalization was asymmetrical around the central visual field, and the asymmetry depended on the pursuit direction. As the eye position changed, the magnitude of the horizontal mislocalization gradually decreased. It was also observed that the vertical mislocalization of the flash stimulus was constant regardless of the eye position displacement. These results show that the visual space during the horizontal pursuit eye movement is expanded horizontally and then gradually returns to the normal state. It is suggested that the visual space is dynamically distorted during the pursuit eye movement.