An Information-Theoretic Framework for Understanding Saccadic Eye Movements

In this paper, we propose that information maximization can provide aunified framework for understanding saccadic eye movements. Inthis 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 locations ofmaximum 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. 1 Introduction When we look at a painting or a visual scene, our eyes move around rapidly and constantly to look at different parts of the scene.