Effects of others’ gaze and facial expression on an observer’s microsaccades and their association with ADHD tendencies

Journal of Physiological Anthropology

Original Article

Takashi Okada¹  Yuki Motomura²  Shigekazu Higuchi²  Ryousei Kurose³  Hiroki Yoshida³  Sayuri Hayashi⁴ 

[1] Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashi, 187-0031, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan;Department of Human Life Design, Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, 4-9-1 Shiobaru, 815-8540, Minamiku, Fukuoka, Japan;Department of Kansei Science, Graduate School of Integrated Frontier Science, Kyushu University, 4-9-1 Shiobaru, 815-8540, Minamiku, Fukuoka, Japan;Department of Kansei Science, Graduate School of Integrated Frontier Science, Kyushu University, 4-9-1 Shiobaru, 815-8540, Minamiku, Fukuoka, Japan;Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashi, 187-0031, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan;

关键词: Microsaccades;    Attention;    Gaze;    Emotion;    Oculomotor control;    Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40101-023-00335-2

 received in 2022-09-26, accepted in 2023-07-26,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the effect of others’ gaze on an observer’s microsaccades. We also aimed to conduct preliminary investigations on the relationship between the microsaccadic response to a gaze and a gazer’s facial expression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tendencies.MethodsTwenty healthy undergraduate and graduate students performed a peripheral target detection task by using unpredictable gaze cues. During the task, the participants’ eye movements, along with changes in pupil size and response times for target detection, were recorded. ADHD tendencies were determined using an ADHD questionnaire.ResultsWe found that consciously perceiving the gaze of another person induced the observer’s attention; moreover, microsaccades were biased in the direction opposite to the gaze. Furthermore, these microsaccade biases were differentially modulated, based on the cognitive processing of the facial expressions of the gaze. Exploratory correlation analysis indicated that microsaccade biases toward gazes with fearful expressions may specifically be correlated with participant characteristics, including inattention.ConclusionsOur findings support that microsaccades reflect spatial attention processing and social cognitive processing. Moreover, the exploratory correlation analysis results suggested the potential benefit of using microsaccade bias toward spatial attention to assess pathophysiological responses associated with ADHD tendencies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology 2023

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