Fig. 6: Image dependence of perceptual suppression without saccades.

a Rapid texture displacements simulating saccade-like image displacements, similar to the retina experiments (Fig. 3). We used the same flashes and simulated saccade directions as in Fig. 1. The example shows a coarse texture (fine textures shown in insets in c, d, and f). b, c Pre-, peri-, and post-displacement perceptual suppression (mean ± s.e.m. over N = 6 individual subjects) occurred for both coarse (b) and fine (c) textures. d As with real saccades (Fig. 1), suppression started earlier and lasted longer with coarse textures (also compare to similar retinal effects in Fig. 3e). Notably, pre-displacement suppression depended on texture statistics, just like with real saccades (Fig. 1). e, f Simulated saccades were associated with significantly longer suppression than real saccades for both fine and coarse textures. For coarse textures (e, which were most effective in causing suppression overall), flashes presented before the “saccade” event were suppressed earlier in the simulated saccade condition than in the real saccade condition (also see Fig. 7); thus, prolonged suppression with texture displacements was not restricted to post-displacement flashes only. Asterisks denote significant differences between coarse and fine textures (d) or between real and simulated saccades (e, f) at each indicated time point (χ² tests with Bonferroni corrections; *p < 0.005 in d and p < 0.007 in e, f; ***p < 0.0001 in d and p < 0.00014 in e, f). Supplementary Fig. 2 shows individual subject results.