Cross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samples
Abstract This eye-tracking research investigates cross-cultural similarities and differences in visual attention in complex scenes free-viewing perception. The study utilizes 70 real-world photos with one or two focal objects as stimulus materials. The study examines the amount of time spent on foca...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12724-x |
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| author | Jiří Čeněk Daniela Halámková Jan Caha David Lacko Petra Kalenská Zdeněk Stachoň Jie-Li Tsai Albert Ahenkan Thomas Dresler Jana Lüdtke Nicol Dostálová Alžběta Šašinková Pavel Ugwitz Čeněk Šašinka |
| author_facet | Jiří Čeněk Daniela Halámková Jan Caha David Lacko Petra Kalenská Zdeněk Stachoň Jie-Li Tsai Albert Ahenkan Thomas Dresler Jana Lüdtke Nicol Dostálová Alžběta Šašinková Pavel Ugwitz Čeněk Šašinka |
| author_sort | Jiří Čeněk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This eye-tracking research investigates cross-cultural similarities and differences in visual attention in complex scenes free-viewing perception. The study utilizes 70 real-world photos with one or two focal objects as stimulus materials. The study examines the amount of time spent on focal objects, saccadic lengths, temporal changes in saccadic lengths and factors that influence these metrics. Data were collected between 2020 and 2022 from seven cultural samples in Africa, East Asia, Europe, and the Near East (N = 408). Contrary to initial hypotheses, the findings challenge the expected order of countries in terms of attention toward objects. Participants from Taiwan, assumed to exhibit holistic patterns, displayed the most holistic viewing pattern. Surprisingly, participants from Germany and Czechia did not significantly differ from those in Taiwan. Furthermore, participants from Ghana and Türkiye, expected to be moderate, showed the most analytic pattern. This challenges preconceived notions and contributes to understanding patterns of scene perception in underrepresented countries. Additional analyses explored the relationship between number and size of focal objects and dwell time, as well as the potential influence of sociodemographic variables, on dwell time. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1742dbfccb29407ab2216df04f6e5fca |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-1742dbfccb29407ab2216df04f6e5fca2025-08-20T03:42:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-12724-xCross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samplesJiří Čeněk0Daniela Halámková1Jan Caha2David Lacko3Petra Kalenská4Zdeněk Stachoň5Jie-Li Tsai6Albert Ahenkan7Thomas Dresler8Jana Lüdtke9Nicol Dostálová10Alžběta Šašinková11Pavel Ugwitz12Čeněk Šašinka13Department of Social Studies, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in BrnoLaboratory of Information and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk UniversityDepartment of Regional Development, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in BrnoInterdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk UniversityInstitute of Mathematics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of TechnologyLaboratory of Information and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk UniversityDepartment of Psychology, National Chengchi UniversityDepartment of Public Administration, University of Ghana Business SchoolDepartment of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health, University Hospital TübingenDepartment of Education and Psychology, Experimental and Neurocognitive Psychology, Freie Universität BerlinLaboratory of Information and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk UniversityLaboratory of Information and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk UniversityLaboratory of Information and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk UniversityInterdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk UniversityAbstract This eye-tracking research investigates cross-cultural similarities and differences in visual attention in complex scenes free-viewing perception. The study utilizes 70 real-world photos with one or two focal objects as stimulus materials. The study examines the amount of time spent on focal objects, saccadic lengths, temporal changes in saccadic lengths and factors that influence these metrics. Data were collected between 2020 and 2022 from seven cultural samples in Africa, East Asia, Europe, and the Near East (N = 408). Contrary to initial hypotheses, the findings challenge the expected order of countries in terms of attention toward objects. Participants from Taiwan, assumed to exhibit holistic patterns, displayed the most holistic viewing pattern. Surprisingly, participants from Germany and Czechia did not significantly differ from those in Taiwan. Furthermore, participants from Ghana and Türkiye, expected to be moderate, showed the most analytic pattern. This challenges preconceived notions and contributes to understanding patterns of scene perception in underrepresented countries. Additional analyses explored the relationship between number and size of focal objects and dwell time, as well as the potential influence of sociodemographic variables, on dwell time.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12724-xEye-trackingScene perceptionCross-cultural researchHolistic and analytic perception |
| spellingShingle | Jiří Čeněk Daniela Halámková Jan Caha David Lacko Petra Kalenská Zdeněk Stachoň Jie-Li Tsai Albert Ahenkan Thomas Dresler Jana Lüdtke Nicol Dostálová Alžběta Šašinková Pavel Ugwitz Čeněk Šašinka Cross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samples Scientific Reports Eye-tracking Scene perception Cross-cultural research Holistic and analytic perception |
| title | Cross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samples |
| title_full | Cross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samples |
| title_fullStr | Cross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samples |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samples |
| title_short | Cross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samples |
| title_sort | cross cultural analysis of eye movement patterns in visual scene perception a comparison of seven cultural samples |
| topic | Eye-tracking Scene perception Cross-cultural research Holistic and analytic perception |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12724-x |
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