Abstract
Saccadic latency to a peripheral target is shortened when a fixated stimulus disappeared shortly before the onset of the target. We examined if social signal (gaze) of the fixation stimulus could influence the gap effect. A trial began with presentation of a cartoon-face fixation, which had a direct or averted gaze direction, and then the pupils of the face were kept remained, removed, or translated vertically making averted (or direct) gaze. After a 200-ms delay period, a target was presented on the left or right of the face. Observers made a saccade towards the target as quickly as possible. The results replicated the original gap effect; disappearance of the pupils facilitated the saccadic reaction. Furthermore, removal of the gaze towards the observer facilitated the saccadic reaction while the appearance of the gaze eliminated the facilitation. These results indicate that social signal from the fixation modulate the saccadic gap effect.
