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Preferred fixation position and gaze location: Two factors modulating the composite face effect.

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Individuals process faces holistically, influenced by where they look first. A stronger composite face effect (CFE) occurs when gaze is near the eyes, showing gaze patterns shape face perception.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Visual Perception

Background:

  • Humans exhibit a preferred fixation location (PFL) for initial saccades when viewing faces.
  • The composite face effect (CFE) demonstrates a holistic processing of faces.
  • The relationship between individual gaze patterns and holistic face processing remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how an individual's preferred fixation location (PFL) on a face influences the strength of the composite face effect (CFE).
  • To determine if gaze patterns modulate the tendency to process faces holistically.

Main Methods:

  • Two groups of observers were screened based on their PFL: upper face (near eyes) or lower face (near nose).
  • Participants performed a task while fixating on either their own PFL or the other group's PFL.
  • The strength of the CFE was measured under different fixation conditions.

Main Results:

  • The upper half of the face elicited a stronger CFE than the lower half.
  • A PFL closer to the eyes resulted in a stronger CFE compared to a PFL closer to the mouth.
  • The top-half CFE was abolished when participants fixated at a non-preferred location.

Conclusions:

  • The strength of the composite face effect is modulated by the preferred fixation location on a face.
  • Gaze patterns, specifically the preferred fixation location, significantly influence holistic face processing.
  • Consistent oculomotor strategies shape internal face representations, underpinning the CFE.