Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
12:39
A Methodology for Capturing Joint Visual Attention Using Mobile Eye-Trackers
Published on: January 18, 2020
8.3K
Detecting communicative intent in a computerised test of joint attention
Nathan Caruana1, Genevieve McArthur2, Alexandra Woolgar1
1Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Perception in Action Research Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Peerj
|January 27, 2017
Summary
Monitoring others' intentions slows down joint attention. This study shows that understanding communicative intent, crucial for social interaction, impacts gaze following speed in healthy adults.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Social Neuroscience
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Joint attention, the shared focus on an object or event, is fundamental for social interaction and learning.
- Intention monitoring, the ability to infer others' goals, is a key cognitive process underlying social cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how intention monitoring influences gaze-following response times during joint attention tasks.
- To differentiate the effects of communicative versus non-communicative gaze shifts on joint attention behavior.
Main Methods:
- A virtual reality task involving 16 healthy adults collaborating with a virtual partner in a search game.
- Two conditions: a 'Search' task requiring intention monitoring of non-communicative gaze shifts and a 'NoSearch' task without these shifts.
- Control conditions using arrow cues instead of avatar gaze to isolate social factors.
Main Results:
- Gaze following was significantly slower in the 'Search' task compared to the 'NoSearch' task, indicating a cost associated with intention monitoring.
- This slowing effect was specific to social cues (avatar gaze) and not observed with non-social arrow cues.
Conclusions:
- Intention monitoring processes, particularly differentiating communicative from non-communicative gaze, measurably influence joint attention behavior.
- Findings have implications for understanding social cognition deficits in conditions like autism and for social neuroscience research.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Non-Verbal Cues
395
Non-verbal communication extends beyond gestures and facial expressions to include vocal elements known as paralanguage. Paralanguage consists of non-verbal vocal cues such as pitch, loudness, speech rate, pauses, and non-verbal vocalizations like laughter, sighs, and moans. These elements not only accompany speech but also provide critical emotional and contextual information.The Role of Paralanguage in CommunicationParalanguage adds depth to spoken language by conveying emotions and...
395
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
1.2K
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
1.2K
01:28Channels of Non-Verbal Communication
553
Non-verbal communication plays a critical role in human interaction, influencing how individuals perceive emotions and psychological states. It operates through four primary channels: facial expressions, eye contact, body language, and touch. These non-verbal cues help convey meaning beyond spoken language and are often culturally influenced.Facial Expressions and Emotional RecognitionFacial expressions are among the most powerful and universal forms of non-verbal communication. Research has...
553
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
5.3K
The barriers to effective communication also include cultural barriers, semantic barriers, gender barriers, and time constraints.
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
5.3K