Measuring attentional bias to peripheral facial deformities

Abstract

Observers gazing on faces typically focus their attention on discriminating features, such as eyes, nose, and mouth. The well-established method of eye movement recordings was applied in a novel way to provide quantitative data showing changes in observer gaze patterns to focus on deformities. These gaze patterns are a direct reflection of observer attention. This is the first objective method to quantify the amount of distraction caused by peripheral facial deformities and may provide insight into the perception of facial deformity.

Measuring attentional bias in children with prominent ears: A prospective eye-tracking study

“…One recent study recorded the scan paths of naïve observers viewing photographs of faces with cutaneous surgical defects and faces immediately after reconstruction of the surgical defects. 19 Overall, there was a significant attentional bias towards the site of surgical defect. Although the importance of using eye-movement data requires further investigation, it is a well-established objective method to quantify the amount of attention given to certain areas of the face, and it may be applied to other craniofacial anomalies.…”

Detection and Perceptual Impact of Side-to-Side Facial Movement Asymmetry

“…These facial asymmetries can come from facial paralysis, lesions, or other changes to the face. Facial lesions have been shown to have an attractiveness penalty ( 13 ) and attract more attention ( 14 ) than other parts of the face. Pictures of individuals with facial paralysis have been ranked as less attractive than individuals without facial paralysis ( 8 ), and typical visual scan-path patterns are redirected toward the side with facial paralysis ( 7 ), a crooked nose ( 15 ) or a facial lesion ( 14 ).…”

A Pilot Study on Using Eye Tracking to Understand Assessment of Surgical Outcomes from Clinical Photography

“…In comparison, there have been few studies employing eye tracking in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. For example, Ishii et al reported statistically significant differences in the patterns of scan paths of eight naive observers when gazing at images of faces with vs. without surgical deformities [19]. Moreover, we are unaware of any previous studies in breast reconstructive surgery that employed eye-tracking technology.…”