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 Oxytocin enhances the recovery of eye-contact induced autonomic arousal: A treatment mechanism study with placebo-controlled design

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicky Daniels ◽  
Jellina Prinsen ◽  
Javier R. Soriano ◽  
Kaat Alaerts
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Autonomic Arousal ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses

AbstractThe neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is suggested to exert a pivotal role in a variety of complex human behaviors, including trust, attachment, social perception and fear-regulation. Previous studies have demonstrated that intranasal administration of OT reduces subjective and neuroendocrine stress responses and dampens amygdala reactivity. Moreover, OT has been proposed to modulate activity of the autonomic nervous system.Here, we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 56 men, to investigate whether a single-dose of OT (24 IU) modulates sympathetic autonomic arousal upon live dyadic gaze interactions. To do so, electro-dermal recordings of skin conductance were performed during the engagement of eye contact with a live model in a naturalistic two-person social context.In accordance to prior research, direct eye gaze elicited a significant enhancement in skin conductance responses, but OT did not specifically enhance or dampen the overall magnitude (amplitude) of the autonomic arousal response. Administration of OT did facilitate the recovery of skin conductance responses back to baseline (increased steepness of recovery slope), indicating a role of OT in restoring homeostatic balance. Notably, the treatment-effect on autonomic recovery was most prominent in participants with low self-reported social responsiveness and high attachment avoidance, indicating that person-dependent factors play a pivotal role in determining OT treatment-responses. Behaviorally, OT significantly reduced self-reported feelings of tension and (at trend-level) worrying about how one presents oneself.Together, these observations add further evidence to a role of OT in reducing subjective and autonomic stress responses, primarily by facilitating restoration of homeostatic balance after (social) stress-induced perturbation.

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 The Role of Eye Gaze in Regulating Turn Taking in Conversations: A Systematized Review of Methods and Findings

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziedune Degutyte ◽  
Arlene Astell
Keyword(s):  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Gaze Behavior ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Speech Monitoring ◽  
Systematized Review ◽  
Methodological Approaches

Eye gaze plays an important role in communication but understanding of its actual function or functions and the methods used to elucidate this have varied considerably. This systematized review was undertaken to summarize both the proposed functions of eye gaze in conversations of healthy adults and the methodological approaches employed. The eligibility criteria were restricted to a healthy adult population and excluded studies that manipulated eye gaze behavior. A total of 29 articles—quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods were returned, with a wide range of methodological designs. The main areas of variability related to number of conversants, their familiarity and status, conversation topic, data collection tools—video and eye tracking—and definitions of eye gaze. The findings confirm that eye gaze facilitates turn yielding, plays a role in speech monitoring, prevents and repairs conversation breakdowns and facilitates intentional and unintentional speech interruptions. These findings were remarkably consistent given the variability in methods across the 29 articles. However, in relation to turn initiation, the results were less consistent, requiring further investigation. This review provides a starting point for future studies to make informed decisions about study methods for examining eye gaze and selecting variables of interest.

scholarly journals Intranasal oxytocin enhances approach-related EEG frontal alpha asymmetry during engagement of direct eye contact

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier R. Soriano ◽  
Nicky Daniels ◽  
Jellina Prinsen ◽  
Kaat Alaerts
Keyword(s):  
Eye Contact ◽  
Social Motivation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Gaze Behavior ◽  
Alpha Asymmetry ◽  
Live Model ◽  
Frontal Alpha Asymmetry ◽  
Approach Avoidance

AbstractThe neuropeptide oxytocin is suggested to exert a pivotal role in a variety of complex human behaviors, including interpersonal bonding, trust, and attachment. Recent theories have suggested that the role oxytocin plays in these complex social behaviors involves a modulation of motivational tendencies of approach/avoidance-related behaviors. However, to date, direct neurophysiological evidence supporting this notion is limited. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study with parallel design, we assessed the effects of administered intranasal oxytocin in 40 adult men on gaze behavior and a neural marker of approach/avoidance motivational tendencies. Specifically, electroencephalography recordings were performed during the engagement of eye contact with a live model in a naturalistic two-person social context and electroencephalographic frontal alpha asymmetry, an established neurophysiological index of motivational tendencies for approach/avoidance-related behaviors, was assessed. Compared to placebo, a single dose of oxytocin (24 international units) was shown to increase relative left-sided frontal asymmetry upon direct eye contact with a live model, which is indicative of an increase in approach-related motivational tendencies toward the presented eye contact stimulus. Notably, the treatment effect was most prominently observed in participants with lower self-reported social motivation (higher Motivation subscale scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale), indicating that participants with lower social motivation benefitted the most from the administered oxytocin. No treatment-specific changes were identified in terms of gaze behavior toward the eye region of the live model. Together, these observations add neurophysiological evidence to the hypothesized role of oxytocin in modulating approach/avoidance related tendencies and suggest that inter-individual variance in person-dependent factors need to be considered in order to evaluate the potential benefit of intranasal oxytocin as a treatment. This notion is of particular relevance to the variety of neuropsychiatric populations such as autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety disorder and depression, for which intranasal oxytocin is increasingly considered a potential treatment.

Visual Attention in 3-D Space while Moving Forward

2013 ◽  
pp. 81-88
Author(s):  
Takahiko Kimura ◽  
Toshiaki Miura ◽  
Kazumitsu Shinohara ◽  
Shun’ichi Doi
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Motion

One of our cognitive functions is attention, which plays an essential role in veridical behavior. In this chapter, the research on attention in 3-D space is reviewed. In particular, for ecological validity, the shift of attention in 3-D space when observers are in self-motion is discussed. Research in cognitive psychology indicates that elucidating the role of attention in 3-D space is important for understanding a driver’s behavior, in order to suitably design the interface of in-vehicle devices. Finally, future research on the connection between attention and safety in driving situations will be discussed.

scholarly journals Eye gaze and L2 speakers’ responses to recasts: A systematic replication study of McDonough, Crowther, Kielstra and Trofimovich (2015)

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim McDonough ◽  
Pavel Trofimovich ◽  
Phung Dao ◽  
Dato Abashidze
Keyword(s):  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Replication Study ◽  
Gaze Behavior ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Systematic Replication ◽  
Mutual Gaze ◽  
Research Assistants

To confirm the role of social factors in mediating cognitive processes, this systematic replication study seeks to extend the generalizability of an exploratory study (McDonough, Crowther, Kielstra & Trofimovich 2015) that reported a positive association between eye gaze and second language (L2) speakers’ responses to recasts. For this replication, L2 English speakers (N = 74) carried out communicative tasks with research assistants who provided recasts in response to non-targetlike forms while both interlocutors’ eye gaze behavior was tracked. Transcripts were analyzed for the occurrence of recasts in response to different error types, recast length, and L2 speaker responses. Eye gaze length for the research assistants (RAs) when producing the recast move and the L2 speaker when responding to the recast were obtained in seconds, and mutual gaze (i.e., simultaneous looking) was included as a binary eye gaze variable. A logistic regression model confirmed the findings of McDonough et al. (2015), with both L2 speaker and mutual eye gaze predictive of targetlike responses; however, the effect of L2 speaker's eye gaze duration was in the opposite direction as compared to the initial study. The implications are discussed in terms of understanding the role of eye gaze in face to face interaction.

Bilateral motor resonance evoked by observation of a one-hand movement: role of the primary motor cortex

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1427-1435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Borroni ◽  
Marcella Montagna ◽  
Gabriella Cerri ◽  
Fausto Baldissera
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Hand Movement ◽  
Motor Resonance

Maintaining Situational Awareness: The Role of Visual Attention

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Chaparro ◽  
Loren Groff ◽  
Kamala Tabor ◽  
Kathy Sifrit ◽  
Leo J. Gugerty
Keyword(s):  
Visual Attention ◽  
Situational Awareness

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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