scholarly journals On the role of eye contact in gaze cueing

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyveli Kompatsiari ◽  
Francesca Ciardo ◽  
Vadim Tikhanoff ◽  
Giorgio Metta ◽  
Agnieszka Wykowska
Keyword(s):  
Humanoid Robot ◽  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Reflexive Orienting ◽  
Gaze Cueing ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Human Eyes

Most experimental protocols examining joint attention with the gaze cueing paradigm are “observational” and “offline”, thereby not involving social interaction. We examined whether within a naturalistic online interaction, real-time eye contact influences the gaze cueing effect (GCE). We embedded gaze cueing in an interactive protocol with the iCub humanoid robot. This has the advantage of ecological validity combined with excellent experimental control. Critically, before averting the gaze, iCub either established eye contact or not, a manipulation enabled by an algorithm detecting position of the human eyes. For non-predictive gaze cueing procedure (Experiment 1), only the eye contact condition elicited GCE, while for counter-predictive procedure (Experiment 2), only the condition with no eye contact induced GCE. These results reveal an interactive effect of strategic (gaze validity) and social (eye contact) top-down components on the reflexive orienting of attention induced by gaze cues. More generally, we propose that naturalistic protocols with an embodied presence of an agent can cast a new light on mechanisms of social cognition.

scholarly journals Eye contact during joint attention with a humanoid robot modulates oscillatory brain activity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyveli Kompatsiari ◽  
Francesco Bossi ◽  
Agnieszka Wykowska
Keyword(s):  
Joint Attention ◽  
Humanoid Robot ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Brain Response ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Gaze Cueing ◽  
Human Partner ◽  
Oscillatory Brain Activity

Eye contact established by a human partner has been shown to affect various cognitive processes of the receiver. However, little is known about humans’ responses to eye contact established by a humanoid robot. Here, we aimed at examining humans’ oscillatory brain response to eye contact with a humanoid robot. Eye contact (or lack thereof) was embedded in a gaze cueing task and preceded the phase of gaze-related attentional orienting. In addition to examining the effect of eye contact on the recipient, we also tested its impact on gaze cueing effects. Results showed that participants rated eye contact as more engaging and responded with higher desynchronization of alpha-band activity in left fronto-central and central electrode clusters when the robot established eye contact with them, compared to no eye contact condition. However, eye contact did not modulate gaze cueing effects. The results are interpreted in terms of the functional roles involved in alpha central rhythms (potentially interpretable also as mu rhythm), including joint attention and engagement in social interaction.

scholarly journals Eye contact enhances interpersonal motor resonance: comparing video stimuli to a live two-person action context

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 967-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jellina Prinsen ◽  
Kaat Alaerts
Keyword(s):  
Visual Attention ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Gaze Behavior ◽  
Motor Resonance ◽  
Action Context

Abstract Previous research has shown a link between eye contact and interpersonal motor resonance, indicating that the mirroring of observed movements is enhanced when accompanied with mutual eye contact between actor and observer. Here, we further explored the role of eye contact within a naturalistic two-person action context. Twenty-two participants observed simple hand movements combined with direct or averted gaze presented via a live model in a two-person setting or via video recordings, while transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) to measure changes in M1 excitability. Skin conductance responses and gaze behavior were also measured to investigate the role of arousal and visual attention herein. Eye contact significantly enhanced excitability of the observer’s M1 during movement observation within a two-person setting. Notably, participants with higher social responsiveness (Social Communication subscale of the Social Responsiveness Scale) displayed a more pronounced modulation of M1 excitability by eye gaze. Gaze-related modulations in M1 excitability were, however, not associated with differences in visual attention or autonomic arousal. In summary, the current study highlights the effectiveness and feasibility of adopting paradigms with high ecological validity for studying the modulation of mirror system processes by subtle social cues, such as eye gaze.

scholarly journals Cultural background modulates how we look at other persons’ gaze

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Senju ◽  
Angélina Vernetti ◽  
Yukiko Kikuchi ◽  
Hironori Akechi ◽  
Toshikazu Hasegawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Gaze Shift ◽  
Gaze Aversion ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Eye Fixations ◽  
Japanese Adults ◽  
Face Scanning

The current study investigated the role of cultural norms on the development of face-scanning. British and Japanese adults’ eye movements were recorded while they observed avatar faces moving their mouth, and then their eyes toward or away from the participants. British participants fixated more on the mouth, which contrasts with Japanese participants fixating mainly on the eyes. Moreover, eye fixations of British participants were less affected by the gaze shift of the avatar than Japanese participants, who shifted their fixation to the corresponding direction of the avatar’s gaze. Results are consistent with the Western cultural norms that value the maintenance of eye contact, and the Eastern cultural norms that require flexible use of eye contact and gaze aversion.

scholarly journals On the role of eye contact in gaze cueing

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyveli Kompatsiari ◽  
Francesca Ciardo ◽  
Vadim Tikhanoff ◽  
Giorgio Metta ◽  
Agnieszka Wykowska
Keyword(s):  
Eye Contact ◽  
Gaze Cueing

To follow or not to follow your gaze: The interplay between strategic control and the eye contact effect on gaze-induced attention orienting.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyveli Kompatsiari ◽  
Francesca Ciardo ◽  
Agnieszka Wykowska
Keyword(s):  
Eye Contact ◽  
Social Aspect ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Strategic Control ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Gaze Cueing ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Social Component ◽  
Cueing Effect ◽  
The Social

Eye contact constitutes a strong communicative signal in human interactions and has been shown to modulate various cognitive processes and states. However, little is known about its impact on gaze-mediated attentional orienting in the context of its interplay with strategic top-down control. Here, we aimed at investigating how the social component of eye contact interacts with the top-down strategic control. To this end, we designed a gaze cueing paradigm with iCub humanoid robot, in which iCub either established eye contact with the participants before averting its gaze or avoided their eyes. Across four experiments, we manipulated gaze cue validity to either elicit strategic top-down inhibitory activity (25% validity) or to allow for relaxing the control mechanisms (50% validity). Also, we manipulated the stimulus-onset-asynchrony (SOA) to examine the dynamics of the top-down modulatory effects. Our results showed that eye contact influenced the gaze cueing effect when the strategic control was not required, by prolonging the prioritized processing of the gazed-at locations. Thus, the effect was observed only when the measurement was taken after a sufficient amount of time (1000 ms SOA). However, when inhibitory control was necessary (25% validity), the social component was not potent enough to exert influence over the gaze cueing effect independently. Overall, we propose that strategic top-down control is the primary driving force over the gaze cueing effect and that the social aspect plays a modulatory effect by prolonging prioritized processing of gazed-at locations.

scholarly journals “People are gazing” — An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Viewing Velázquez

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Rachel A. Starr ◽  
Jonathan A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Diego Velazquez ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

Abstract What is it like to look at a painting? Research into art viewing raises challenging considerations. Factors concerning the artwork, the viewer, the role of context, as well as conceptualisation of the response and how to measure it, present a wealth of complexity. Although such a topic might arguably lend itself to qualitative exploration, work of this type is notably sparse. In the research reported here, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to explore the experience of looking at a painting. Twelve participants were individually interviewed whilst viewing Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez. Three Master Themes were developed, the first of which, ‘The Gaze’, is presented in depth. Experiences of looking and being looked at by figures in the image are described and considered in relation to social and philosophical understandings of eye contact, seeing and being seen.

scholarly journals It’s in the eyes: The engaging role of mutual gaze in HRI

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyveli Kompatsiari ◽  
Francesca Ciardo ◽  
Vadim Tikhanoff ◽  
Giorgio Metta ◽  
Agnieszka Wykowska
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Humanoid Robots ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Gaze Direction ◽  
Neutral Position ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Mutual Gaze ◽  
Subjective Reports

This paper reports a study where we examined how a humanoid robot was evaluated by users, dependent on established eye contact. In two experiments, we manipulated how the robot gazes, namely either by looking at the subjects’ eyes (mutual gaze) or to a socially neutral position (neutral). Across the two experiments, we altered the level of predictiveness of the robot’s gaze direction with respect to a subsequent target stimulus (in Exp.1 the direction was non-predictive, in Exp. 2 the gaze direction was counter-predictive). Results of subjective reports showed that participants were sensitive to eye contact. Moreover, participants were more engaged and ascribed higher intentionality to the robot in the mutual gaze condition relative to the neutral condition. This was independent of predictiveness of the gaze cue. Our results suggest that embodied humanoid robots can establish eye contact, which in turn has a positive impact on perceived socialness of the robot, and on the quality of human-robot interaction (HRI). Therefore, establishing mutual gaze should be considered in design of robot behaviors for social HRI.

Designing robot eyes for communicating gaze

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Onuki ◽  
Takafumi Ishinoda ◽  
Emi Tsuburaya ◽  
Yuki Miyata ◽  
Yoshinori Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Joint Attention ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Verbal Communication ◽  
Service Robots ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Stereo Cameras ◽  
Communication Capability ◽  
Human Eyes

Abstract—Human eyes not only serve the function of enabling us “to see” something, but also perform the vital role of allowing us “to show” our gaze for non-verbal communication, such as through establishing eye contact and joint attention. The eyes of service robots should therefore also perform both of these functions. Moreover, they should be friendly in appearance so that humans may feel comfortable with the robots. Therefore we maintain that it is important to consider gaze communication capability and friendliness in designing the appearance of robot eyes. In this paper, we propose a new robot face with rear-projected eyes for changing their appearance while simultaneously realizing the showing of gaze by incorporating stereo cameras. Additionally, we examine which shape of robot eyes is most suitable for gaze reading and gives the friendliest impression, through experiments where we altered the shape and iris size of robot eyes. Keywords: Gaze reading; facial design; projector camera system

Individual Differences in the Name Similarity Effect

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Howard ◽  
Roger A. Kerin
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Impression Management ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Brand Attitude ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Similarity Effect ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Usage Context

The name similarity effect is the tendency to like people, places, and things with names similar to our own. Although many researchers have examined name similarity effects on preferences and behavior, no research to date has examined whether individual differences exist in susceptibility to those effects. This research reports the results of two experiments that examine the role of self-monitoring in moderating name similarity effects. In the first experiment, name similarity effects on brand attitude and purchase intentions were found to be stronger for respondents high, rather than low, in self-monitoring. In the second experiment, the interactive effect observed in the first study was found to be especially true in a public (vs. private) usage context. These findings are consistent with theoretical expectations of name similarity effects as an expression of egotism manifested in the image and impression management concerns of high self-monitors.

The Role of Eye Contact on Memory Performance

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Lanthier ◽  
Mona Zhu ◽  
Crystal Byun ◽  
Michelle Jarick ◽  
Alan Kingstone
Keyword(s):  
Memory Performance ◽  
Eye Contact
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