Which characteristic best describes saccades?

• A. Slow velocity
• B. Fast velocity
• C. Slow latency
• D. Fast latency

Answer: (B)

Saccades are rapid, ballistic eye movements that quickly reposition the fovea onto a new target. The defining feature is fast velocity—the eye moves with a high peak speed and a brief duration once the movement is initiated, allowing quick shifts in gaze. This brisk speed sets saccades apart from slower tracking movements like smooth pursuit. Latency (the time from target appearance to movement onset) is relatively brief but not the characteristic that best describes what a saccade is; the key distinction is how fast the movement itself is. Also, larger saccades tend to have higher peak velocities, illustrating the velocity-amplitude relationship known as the main sequence.