Predictive smooth pursuit eye movements during identification of moving acuity targets

Repetitive, brief target ramp movements every few seconds lead to anticipatory acceleration before each ramp onset and anticipatory deceleration before ramp offset. We assessed whether identifying novel changes in the pursuit target would alter this pattern of anticipatory pursuit. Without target identification (TI), anticipatory acceleration increased when intervals between ramps were regular, rather than random. It increased further when, between ramps, the target was invisible rather than stationary and visible. Anticipatory deceleration increased when the target was expected to stop rather than disappear at ramp offset. For TI trials, the pursuit target changed briefly into a Landolt C acuity target that had to be identified. Compared to no TI, anticipatory acceleration decreased when a stationary C always appeared just before ramp onset. It increased when a moving C appeared just after ramp onset, but only when the target was invisible between ramps. Anticipatory deceleration was reduced when a moving C appeared just before ramp offset, but did not increase when a stationary C appeared just after ramp offset. The changes were significant, but of small magnitude, suggesting that predictive pursuit, especially with a visible target between ramps, cannot be greatly influenced by attempts to selectively improve acuity at a particular phase of the stimulus.