Cited by 203Gaze Tracking and Assistive TechnologyVisual Attention and Saliency DetectionVisual perception and processing mechanisms

A review of gaze entropy as a measure of visual scanning efficiency

Shiferaw, Brook, Downey, Luke, Crewther, David·2019·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Abstract

While the concept of entropy has been applied to gaze analysis, it is unclear what aspects of visual scanning it measures. In this review, we first outline gaze control as a complex system of spatial prediction. Second, we provide a brief introduction to the concept of entropy within the context of information theory as the foundation for gaze entropy measures; with a specific focus on equations for Shannon's entropy and conditional entropy. The application of these equations to gaze data is described as stationary gaze entropy (SGE) and gaze transition entropy (GTE) respectively. Third, we present an updated model of gaze orientation and propose an adaptable definition of GTE as a measure of visual scanning efficiency that underlies overall gaze dispersion measured by SGE. Finally, we review studies that have utilised GTE and SGE to assess visual scanning and discuss their results in relation to our proposed definitions and associated hypotheses. Methodological limitations in gaze entropy measures are discussed and suggestions provided to improve interpretability and generalisability of future studies.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.007

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  • Pupil diameter, eyelid closure, and gaze entropy are highly correlated with a person's cognitive load.

    “Beyond user reliance, eye tracking and pupillometry have been used to gauge the attentional, cognitive, and emotional state of a user [12,18]; for instance, pupil diameter, eyelid closure, and gaze entropy [71] are highly correlated with a person's cognitive load [84].”

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Authors
Shiferaw, B., Downey, L., & Crewther, D.
Affiliations
  • Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
  • Austin Hospital (AU)
Corresponding author
Shiferaw, Brook
Venue
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-01
Volume
96
Pages
353-366
ISSN
0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2905459027
Cited by
203
References
138
Citations by year
2026: 40 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 6
FWCI
1.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Swinburne figshare (Swinburne University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
  • Australian Government through a Research Training Program Stipend (RTPS) scholarship
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Gaze Tracking and Assistive Technology
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Visual Attention and Saliency Detection
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Keywords
gaze entropy, gaze control, Shannon entropy, conditional entropy, gaze dispersion, information theory, eye tracking
MeSH terms
Appetitive Behavior, Eye Movements, Humans, Information Theory, Models, Biological, Psychophysics, Visual Perception, Entropy

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