Direct-Gaze, Eye Movements, and Covert and Overt Social Attention Processes

Ty W. Boyer, Matthew Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study is a replication and extension of previous research examining the effects of others’ gaze direction and gaze shifts on both participants’ (N = 32) manual responses, as an indicator of covert processes, and their visual attention, as an indicator of overt processes, within an experimental response time (RT) paradigm, under both fixed- and free-viewing instructions. Participants viewed arrays of faces displaying direct or averted gaze, which shifted or held their gaze, concurrent with the presentation of a target letter that participants had to identify overlaid on one face, all while their gaze was recorded with an eye-tracking system. Participants’ RTs and eye movements both revealed faster responses when the target face displayed either direct or shifted gaze, and especially when its gaze had shifted from averted to direct, though these effects were modulated by the viewing instructions. Thus, the findings replicate and extend previous research by revealing that direct gaze and dynamic motion onset affect both covert and overt attention.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalAttention, Perception, & Psychophysics
Volume80
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2018

Keywords

  • Covert social attention process
  • Direct-gaze
  • Eye movements
  • Overt social attention process

DC Disciplines

  • Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Psychology

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