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Uncovering Gaze Aversion: How Cognitive Load and Arousal Influence Visual Disengagement

Nordmark, Lina LU (2025) PSYP01 20251
Department of Psychology
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between cognitive load, emotional arousal, and gaze aversion using a within subject eye tracking design. 22 participants completed a dual-task paradigm involving a modified Sternberg memory task of varying difficulty while viewing different levels of arousing images from the IAPS database. Gaze aversion, the behavior of looking away from a stimulus, was operationalized as fixations directed away from central
stimuli during a critical maintenance phase. Results showed that increased task difficulty significantly predicted higher levels of gaze aversion, supporting the hypothesis that gaze aversion functions as a strategy to manage cognitive demands. Contrary to expectations, emotional arousal had no... (More)
This study investigated the relationship between cognitive load, emotional arousal, and gaze aversion using a within subject eye tracking design. 22 participants completed a dual-task paradigm involving a modified Sternberg memory task of varying difficulty while viewing different levels of arousing images from the IAPS database. Gaze aversion, the behavior of looking away from a stimulus, was operationalized as fixations directed away from central
stimuli during a critical maintenance phase. Results showed that increased task difficulty significantly predicted higher levels of gaze aversion, supporting the hypothesis that gaze aversion functions as a strategy to manage cognitive demands. Contrary to expectations, emotional arousal had no significant main effect nor interaction with task difficulty, although a non-significant trend indicated potential attentional capture by arousing stimuli. Exploratory analyses revealed that lower scores of Neuroticism were associated with greater gaze aversion under increased cognitive load, suggesting a moderating role of personality traits. In contrast, inhibitory control as measured by an antisaccade task did not predict gaze behavior. These findings contribute to the literature positioning gaze aversion as an adaptive cognitive mechanism rather than a purely emotional or social response, with implications for
understanding attentional regulation in both typical and clinical populations. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Nordmark, Lina LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
eye tracking, gaze aversion, cognitive load, emotional arousal, individual differences
language
English
id
9197782
date added to LUP
2025-06-18 13:47:06
date last changed
2025-06-18 13:47:06
@misc{9197782,
  abstract     = {{This study investigated the relationship between cognitive load, emotional arousal, and gaze aversion using a within subject eye tracking design. 22 participants completed a dual-task paradigm involving a modified Sternberg memory task of varying difficulty while viewing different levels of arousing images from the IAPS database. Gaze aversion, the behavior of looking away from a stimulus, was operationalized as fixations directed away from central
stimuli during a critical maintenance phase. Results showed that increased task difficulty significantly predicted higher levels of gaze aversion, supporting the hypothesis that gaze aversion functions as a strategy to manage cognitive demands. Contrary to expectations, emotional arousal had no significant main effect nor interaction with task difficulty, although a non-significant trend indicated potential attentional capture by arousing stimuli. Exploratory analyses revealed that lower scores of Neuroticism were associated with greater gaze aversion under increased cognitive load, suggesting a moderating role of personality traits. In contrast, inhibitory control as measured by an antisaccade task did not predict gaze behavior. These findings contribute to the literature positioning gaze aversion as an adaptive cognitive mechanism rather than a purely emotional or social response, with implications for
understanding attentional regulation in both typical and clinical populations.}},
  author       = {{Nordmark, Lina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Uncovering Gaze Aversion: How Cognitive Load and Arousal Influence Visual Disengagement}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}