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Review
. 2024 Mar 12:18:1356680.
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1356680. eCollection 2024.

Interpersonal eye-tracking reveals the dynamics of interacting minds

Sophie Wohltjen  1 , Thalia Wheatley  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Interpersonal eye-tracking reveals the dynamics of interacting minds

Sophie Wohltjen et al. Front Hum Neurosci. .

Abstract

The human eye is a rich source of information about where, when, and how we attend. Our gaze paths indicate where and what captures our attention, while changes in pupil size can signal surprise, revealing our expectations. Similarly, the pattern of our blinks suggests levels of alertness and when our attention shifts between external engagement and internal thought. During interactions with others, these cues reveal how we coordinate and share our mental states. To leverage these insights effectively, we need accurate, timely methods to observe these cues as they naturally unfold. Advances in eye-tracking technology now enable real-time observation of these cues, shedding light on mutual cognitive processes that foster shared understanding, collaborative thought, and social connection. This brief review highlights these advances and the new opportunities they present for future research.

Keywords: blinking; eye-tracking; gaze; naturalistic experimental design; pupillometry; social attention; social interaction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic of three forms of social attention that can be measured using interpersonal eye-tracking. Gaze, pupil size, and eye blinks each reveal unique information about how people dynamically coordinate their attention with each other.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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