Cited by 924Face Recognition and PerceptionEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorAesthetic Perception and Analysis

Gaze bias both reflects and influences preference

Shimojo, Shinsuke, Simion, Claudiu, Shimojo, Eiko, Scheier, Christian·2003·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

Emotions operate along the dimension of approach and aversion, and it is reasonable to assume that orienting behavior is intrinsically linked to emotionally involved processes such as preference decisions. Here we describe a gaze 'cascade effect' that was present when human observers were shown pairs of human faces and instructed to decide which face was more attractive. Their gaze was initially distributed evenly between the two stimuli, but then gradually shifted toward the face that they eventually chose. Gaze bias was significantly weaker in a face shape discrimination task. In a second series of experiments, manipulation of gaze duration, but not exposure duration alone, biased observers' preference decisions. We thus conclude that gaze is actively involved in preference formation. The gaze cascade effect was also present when participants compared abstract, unfamiliar shapes for attractiveness, suggesting that orienting and preference for objects in general are intrinsically linked in a positive feedback loop leading to the conscious choice.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nn1150

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  • Gaze bias appears to both reflect and influence preferences.

    “Indeed, gaze bias appears to both reflect and influence preferences51”

    From Paying attention to attention in depression (2019) · cites this paper as [51]

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Authors
Shimojo, S., Simion, C., Shimojo, E., & Scheier, C.
Affiliations
  • California Institute of Technology (US)
  • Bunkyo Gakuin University (JP)
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2003-11-09
Volume
6
Issue
12
Pages
1317-1322
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2115276604
Cited by
924
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 58 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 64 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 73 · 2018: 62 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 32
FWCI
1.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Aesthetic Perception and Analysis
Keywords
gaze bias, cascading effects, preference formation, facial attractiveness, orienting, gaze duration, positive feedback loop, visual attention
MeSH terms
Choice Behavior, Discrimination, Psychological, Emotions, Fixation, Ocular, Humans, Photic Stimulation, Reaction Time, Statistics, Nonparametric

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