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Article

Microsaccade Rate as a Measure of Drug Response

by
Elliot Hampsey
,
Paul G. Overton
and
Tom Stafford
Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK
J. Eye Mov. Res. 2019, 12(6), 1-10; https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.6.12
Published: 3 October 2019

Abstract

In 22 human subjects we measured microsaccade count across 60 brief fixation trials both pre- and post- administration of 300 mg of caffeine. There was a statistically significant reduction in average microsaccade count post-caffeine administration, with a moderate effect size (Cohen’s d of 0.42). Microsaccade count was stable within individuals across time points (Pearson’s r of 0.89). Sensitivity analysis suggests that the pre/post caffeine effect size is robust to choice of parameters used to identify microsaccades. Bootstrap resampling suggests that both the pre/post-caffeine difference and the across-time stability within individuals could be reliably assessed with far fewer trials. The results support the use of microsaccade count as both a trait measure of individual differences and a state measure of caffeine response. We discuss the results in the context of the theory that the superior colliculus is central to the generation of microsaccades and hence that microsaccade rate may be a useful assay for at least some drug-induced changes at the level of the colliculus: a potentially useful tool in the development of therapies for disorders that may involve collicular dysfunction such as ADHD.
Keywords: eye movement; eye tracking; microsaccades; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; ADHD; caffeine; superior colliculus; sensitivity analysis eye movement; eye tracking; microsaccades; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; ADHD; caffeine; superior colliculus; sensitivity analysis

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Hampsey, E.; Overton, P.G.; Stafford, T. Microsaccade Rate as a Measure of Drug Response. J. Eye Mov. Res. 2019, 12, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.6.12

AMA Style

Hampsey E, Overton PG, Stafford T. Microsaccade Rate as a Measure of Drug Response. Journal of Eye Movement Research. 2019; 12(6):1-10. https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.6.12

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hampsey, Elliot, Paul G. Overton, and Tom Stafford. 2019. "Microsaccade Rate as a Measure of Drug Response" Journal of Eye Movement Research 12, no. 6: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.6.12

APA Style

Hampsey, E., Overton, P. G., & Stafford, T. (2019). Microsaccade Rate as a Measure of Drug Response. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 12(6), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.12.6.12

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