Stella X. Yu : Papers / Google Scholar

An Information-Theoretic Framework for Understanding Saccadic Behaviors
Tai Sing Lee and Stella X. Yu
Neural Information Processing Systems, Denver, Colorado, USA, 29 Nov - 4 Dec 1999
Paper

Abstract
In this paper, we propose that information maximization can provide a unified framework for understanding saccadic eye movements. In this framework, the mutual information among the cortical representations of the retinal image, the priors constructed from our long term visual experience, and a dynamic short-term internal representation constructed from recent saccades provides a map for guiding eye navigation. By directing the eyes to addresss of maximum complexity in neuronal ensemble responses at each step, the automatic saccadic eye movement system greedily collects information about the external world, while modifying the neural representations in the process. This framework attempts to connect several psychological phenomena, such as pop-out and inhibition of return, to long term visual experience and short term working memory. It also provides an interesting perspective on contextual computation and formation of neural representation in the visual system.

Keywords
saccade, mutual information, visual cortex