The impact of eye contact on the sense of agency.

Conscious Cogn

Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Henri-Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address:

Published: September 2019

AI Article Synopsis

  • Recent research indicates that eye contact can increase self-awareness and may influence our perception of agency, which is the feeling of being the driver of our actions.
  • A study was conducted where participants pressed a button in response to a face that either looked directly at them or not, as well as a condition involving different eye gaze patterns with a mask.
  • Results showed that participants experienced a stronger sense of intentionality when the face made direct eye contact, highlighting the significant role of eye gaze in shaping cognitive processes related to self-awareness and agency.

Article Abstract

Recent research suggests that eye contact can lead to enhanced self-awareness. A related phenomenon, the sense of agency deals with the notion of the self as the origin of our actions. Possible links between eye contact and agency have been so far neglected. Here, we investigated whether an implicit sense of agency could be modulated by eye gaze. We asked participants to respond (button press) to a face stimulus: looking or not at the participant (experiment 1); or displaying distinct eye gaze before or after a mask (experiment 2). After each trial, participants estimated the time between their key press and the ensuing effects. We found enhanced intentional binding for conditions that involved direct compared to averted gaze. This study supports the idea that eye contact is an important cue that affects complex cognitive processes and suggests that modulating self-processing can impact the sense of agency.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2019.102794DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

eye contact
16
sense agency
16
eye gaze
8
agency
5
eye
5
impact eye
4
contact
4
sense
4
contact sense
4
agency suggests
4

Similar Publications

Structural Color Contact Lenses from Cholesteric Cellulose Liquid Crystals.

Small Methods

December 2024

Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.

Colored contact lenses have gained popularity among young individuals owing to their ability to alter the appearance of the wearer's eyes. However, conventional lenses containing chemical dyes are susceptible to detachment of the pigment layer, which can lead to corneal damage. In this research, a novel cellulose-based structural color contact lens (SCCL) is presented that enhances aesthetic appeal via a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Contact lens discomfort (CLD) is a common problem for CL wearers, and patients with CLD often have changes in meibomian gland function and structure. In a Phase 2 trial AZR-MD-001 0.5% (AZR) ophthalmic ointment improved meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in non-lens wearers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a common condition affecting individuals who spend prolonged periods using electronic devices. It is characterized by symptoms such as eye strain, dryness, headaches, and neck pain. This study aims to assess the prevalence of CVS symptoms among healthcare professionals, their awareness of the condition, and the effectiveness of various preventative practices.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Acquired Ankyloblepharon Correction Using Ocular Surface and Tarsal Mucous Membrane Grafting in Cicatrizing Ocular Surface Diseases.

Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg

October 2024

Hariram Motumal Nasta & Renu Hariram Nasta Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Services.

Purpose: To report the long-term surgical outcomes of acquired ankyloblepharon correction using mucous membrane graft.

Methods: Five eyes of 4 patients (median age, 19 years) with acquired ankyloblepharon were managed using eyelid splitting and mucous membrane graft anchored to the recti muscles on the bulbar surface in the respective quadrant and onto the bare tarsal surface. Outcome measures include a change in the palpebral fissure width, ability to fit scleral contact lenses, visual acuity, and cosmesis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: This study compares and evaluates the parameters of iridotrabecular contact (ITC) in patients with primary angle closure disease (PACD) with natural lenses and pseudophakia based on anterior segment imaging data from swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Material And Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 92 patients aged 32 to 89 years, and included 56 patients with PACD (43 with natural lenses and 13 with pseudophakia) and 36 in the control group (21 with natural lenses and 15 with pseudophakia). All participants underwent SS-OCT (CASIA2; Tomey Corporation, Japan), which included an assessment of the ITC Index and ITC Area.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!