Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Gaze in Action: Head-mounted Eye Tracking of Children's Dynamic Visual Attention During Naturalistic Behavior
Published on: November 14, 2018
Development of head movement propensity in 4-15 year old children in response to visual step stimuli
Krysta Murray1, Linda Lillakas, Rebecca Weber
1School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1.
Insights
Children
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Pediatric ophthalmology
- Human motor control
Background:
- Head movement frequency in children is crucial for visual attention and gaze control.
- Understanding age-related changes in head movement patterns can reveal insights into developmental processes.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the relationship between age and head movement frequency in response to visual stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between a child's age and their head movement frequency in response to visual step stimuli.
- To identify if there's a specific age range with rapid changes in head movement frequency.
- To explore potential factors influencing these changes in head movement patterns.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-three children aged 4–15 years participated.
- Participants responded to visual step stimuli of varying sizes (5–60 degrees).
- Eye and head movements were recorded using an eye tracker and head tracker; head movement frequency was calculated and averaged by age group.
Main Results:
- Head movement frequency and variability significantly decrease with age in children aged 4–15 years.
- This decrease is linear, with a statistically significant negative correlation between age and head movement frequency (P < 0.0001).
- Larger visual stimuli elicited more head movements than smaller ones across all age groups.
Conclusions:
- The age-related decline in head movement frequency is likely due to neurological development and increased efficiency of eye movements, not environmental factors like reading.
- Cognitive factors may also play a role, as children may learn that head movements are less efficient for gaze shifts than eye movements alone.
- These findings suggest a developmental trajectory in gaze control strategies from childhood to adolescence.
Abstract:
Head movement frequency of children in response to horizontal step stimulus is investigated. The aim is to determine if there is a correlation between the age of the child and the frequency of head movements made to visual step stimuli presented at a fixed distance. Also of importance is whether there is a period of rapid change in the frequency of head movements, and if so, what factors could be influencing this change. Seventy-three participants, between the ages of 4 and 15 years were requested to "look at a spot of light" in response to step stimuli which varied in size from 5 to 60 degrees. Eye and head movements were recorded with a video based eye tracker (EL-Mar 2020) equipped with a Flock of Birds head tracker. Frequency of head movements was calculated for each participant and averaged across participants for each age group. Average head movement frequency was then plotted as a function of age. The frequency and variability of head movements decreases as a function of age. This decrease is linear between the ages of 4 and 15 years (y = -1.465x + 22.58; R(2) = 0.4378; F = 26.48; P < 0.0001). More head movements are made in response to larger step sizes than to smaller ones for all ages. The gradual decrease in frequency of head movements in response to step stimuli suggests that a specific environmental event, such as reading, is not the cause of the decline. Improved efficiency of eye movements could be due to pre-programmed factors related to neurological development. Alternatively, cognitive factors may be involved. Children may actually learn that utilizing their head for gaze shifts is more energy and time consuming, than merely using the eyes alone.
