Saccadic masking, also known as saccadic suppression, is the phenomenon in visual perception where the brain selectively blocks visual processing during eye movements in such a way that neither the motion of the eye nor the gap in visual perception is noticeable to the viewer.

What is saccadic suppression and why is it important in visual perception?

This phenomenon is known as saccadic suppression. A prevailing hypothesis to explain saccadic suppression suggests that by making vision temporarily less sharp for the rapid eye movement, the nervous system discards visual information about movement and helps us to perceive the world as stable.

What is the purpose of saccadic masking?

Known as saccadic masking, it is a function of the brain protecting us from suffering through blurred images that would otherwise be produced when our eyes move or shift. A saccade is a rapid eye movement between the places where the eye rests (called fixation points).