Perception of direct vs. averted gaze in portrait paintings :
An fMRI and eyetracking study

J 2018

Perception of direct vs. averted gaze in portrait paintings : An fMRI and eyetracking study

KESNER, Ladislav, Dominika GRYGAROVÁ, Iveta FAJNEROVÁ, Jiří LUKAVSKÝ, Tereza NEKOVÁŘOVÁ et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Perception of direct vs. averted gaze in portrait paintings : An fMRI and eyetracking study

Authors

KESNER, Ladislav (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Dominika GRYGAROVÁ, Iveta FAJNEROVÁ, Jiří LUKAVSKÝ, Tereza NEKOVÁŘOVÁ, Jaroslav TINTĚRA, Yuliya ZAYTSEVA and Jiří HORÁČEK

Edition

Brain and Cognition, Academic Press, 2018, 0278-2626

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50103 Cognitive sciences

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.619

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/18:00101677

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2018.06.004

UT WoS

000441704500011

Keywords in English

Artistic portraits; Averted gaze; Direct gaze; Eye-tracking; Perception; fMRI

Abstract

V originále

In this study, we use separate eye-tracking measurements and functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the neuronal and behavioral response to painted portraits with direct versus averted gaze. We further explored modulatory effects of several painting characteristics (premodern vs modern period, influence of style and pictorial context). In the fMRI experiment, we show that the direct versus averted gaze elicited increased activation in lingual and inferior occipital and the fusiform face area, as well as in several areas involved in attentional and social cognitive processes, especially the theory of mind: angular gyrus/temporo-parietal junction, inferior frontal gyrus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The additional eye-tracking experiment showed that participants spent more time viewing the portrait’s eyes and mouth when the portrait’s gaze was directed towards the observer. These results suggest that static and, in some cases, highly stylized depictions of human beings in artistic portraits elicit brain activation commensurate with the experience of being observed by a watchful intelligent being. They thus involve observers in implicit inferences of the painted subject’s mental states and emotions. We further confirm the substantial influence of representational medium on brain activity.

Links

GA15-08577S, research and development project

Name: Afektivní odpověď na vizuální umění: propojení uměnovědného a neurovědního pohledu

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

KESNER, Ladislav, Dominika GRYGAROVÁ, Iveta FAJNEROVÁ, Jiří LUKAVSKÝ, Tereza NEKOVÁŘOVÁ, Jaroslav TINTĚRA, Yuliya ZAYTSEVA and Jiří HORÁČEK. Perception of direct vs. averted gaze in portrait paintings : An fMRI and eyetracking study. Brain and Cognition. Academic Press, 2018, vol. 125, No 8, p. 88-99. ISSN 0278-2626. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2018.06.004.

@article{1492667,
   author = {Kesner, Ladislav and Grygarová, Dominika and Fajnerová, Iveta and Lukavský, Jiří and Nekovářová, Tereza and Tintěra, Jaroslav and Zaytseva, Yuliya and Horáček, Jiří},
   article_number = {8},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2018.06.004},
   keywords = {Artistic portraits; Averted gaze; Direct gaze; Eye-tracking; Perception; fMRI},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0278-2626},
   journal = {Brain and Cognition},
   title = {Perception of direct vs. averted gaze in portrait paintings : An fMRI and eyetracking study},
   url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027826261730221X?via%3Dihub},
   volume = {125},
   year = {2018}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1492667
AU  - Kesner, Ladislav - Grygarová, Dominika - Fajnerová, Iveta - Lukavský, Jiří - Nekovářová, Tereza - Tintěra, Jaroslav - Zaytseva, Yuliya - Horáček, Jiří
PY  - 2018
TI  - Perception of direct vs. averted gaze in portrait paintings : An fMRI and eyetracking study
JF  - Brain and Cognition
VL  - 125
IS  - 8
SP  - 88-99
EP  - 88-99
PB  - Academic Press
SN  - 02782626
KW  - Artistic portraits
KW  - Averted gaze
KW  - Direct gaze
KW  - Eye-tracking
KW  - Perception
KW  - fMRI
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027826261730221X?via%3Dihub
L2  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027826261730221X?via%3Dihub
N2  - In this study, we use separate eye-tracking measurements and functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the neuronal and behavioral response to painted portraits with direct versus averted gaze. We further explored modulatory effects of several painting characteristics (premodern vs modern period, influence of style and pictorial context). In the fMRI experiment, we show that the direct versus averted gaze elicited increased activation in lingual and inferior occipital and the fusiform face area, as well as in several areas involved in attentional and social cognitive processes, especially the theory of mind: angular gyrus/temporo-parietal junction, inferior frontal gyrus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The additional eye-tracking experiment showed that participants spent more time viewing the portrait’s eyes and mouth when the portrait’s gaze was directed towards the observer. These results suggest that static and, in some cases, highly stylized depictions of human beings in artistic portraits elicit brain activation commensurate with the experience of being observed by a watchful intelligent being. They thus involve observers in implicit inferences of the painted subject’s mental states and emotions. We further confirm the substantial influence of representational medium on brain activity.
ER  -

KESNER, Ladislav, Dominika GRYGAROVÁ, Iveta FAJNEROVÁ, Jiří LUKAVSKÝ, Tereza NEKOVÁŘOVÁ, Jaroslav TINTĚRA, Yuliya ZAYTSEVA and Jiří HORÁČEK. Perception of direct vs. averted gaze in portrait paintings : An fMRI and eyetracking study. \textit{Brain and Cognition}. Academic Press, 2018, vol.~125, No~8, p.~88-99. ISSN~0278-2626. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2018.06.004.

Detailed Information on Publication Record