The Cognitive Mechanism of Direct and Averted Gazes on Object-Based Attention: The Role of Object Processing Style

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2026.01.003

Abstract

Abstract: Existing research has shown that eye contact influences object-based attention, but the underlying mechanism that is, whether it primarily captures or maintains attention, remains unresolved. This ambiguity arises from differences in object processing styles (holistic vs. feature-based) across studies. Therefore, this study included four experiments by using the two-rectangle cueing paradigm and manipulating SOAs (300 ms, 600 ms, and 900 ms) to investigate this issue in holistic processing (Experiments 1 and 2) and feature-based processing (Experiments 3 and 4). The results of the four experiments consistently demonstrated that, at the 600 ms SOA, direct gaze elicited a larger object-based effect compared to averted gaze, indicating that eye contact’s influence on object-based attention is universal. However, in holistic processing, direct gaze enhanced attentional capture (supporting the sensory enhancement hypothesis), whereas in feature-based processing, it facilitated attentional maintenance (supporting the attention shift hypothesis). These findings suggest that eye contact’s impact on object-based attention also exhibits specificity, depending on the object processing style.

Key words: eye contact, object-based attention, two-rectangle cueing paradigm, holistic processing, feature-based processing

摘要： 已有研究表明目光注视影响客体注意，但这种影响的内部机制是直视捕获还是维持注意至今仍无定论，究其原因，是由于这些研究中使用的客体加工方式(整体vs.特征加工)不同。因此，本研究包含4个实验，采用双框线索范式，通过操纵SOA为300 ms、600 ms和900 ms，在整体加工(实验1和2)和特征加工(实验3和4)客体中考察以上问题。四个实验结果一致表明，600 ms SOA直视比回避条件均产生更大的客体注意效应，说明目光注视对客体注意的影响具有普遍性。但整体加工客体中直视更能捕获注意，支持了感觉增强理论；特征加工客体中直视更能维持注意，支持了注意转移理论，表明目光注视对客体注意的影响因客体加工方式的不同又具有特异性。

关键词: 目光注视, 客体注意, 双框线索范式, 整体加工, 特征加工

CLC Number:

B842

ZHAO Jingjing, YAN Chi, GAO Yunfei, WANG Luyao, WANG Yonghui. The Cognitive Mechanism of Direct and Averted Gazes on Object-Based Attention: The Role of Object Processing Style[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(1): 23-31.

赵晶晶, 闫驰, 高云飞, 王璐瑶, 王勇慧. 目光注视影响客体注意的认知机制：客体加工方式的作用[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2026, 24(1): 23-31.

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