How We Look At Mature Faces-An Eye-Tracking Investigation Into the Perception of Age.

BACKGROUND: It is still unclear which facial region contributes most to the perception of an aged face when evaluated by eye-tracking analyses. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to apply eye-tracking technology to identify whether mature faces require longer fixation durations than young faces and which facial region contributes most to the perception of a mature face. METHODS: Eye-tracking analyses were conducted in 74 volunteers (37 males, 37 females; 43 ≤ 40 years, 31 > 40 years) evaluating their gaze pattern and the fixation durations for the entire face and 9 facial subregions. Frontal facial images of 16 younger (<40 years) and older (>40 years) gender-matched individuals were presented in a standardized setting. RESULTS: Independent of age or gender of the observer, a younger stimulus image was viewed shorter than an older stimulus image with 0.82 (0.63) seconds vs 1.06 (0.73) seconds with P < 0.001. There was no statistically significant difference in their duration of a stable eye fixation when observers inspected a male vs a female stimulus image [0.94 (0.70) seconds vs 0.94 (0.68) seconds; P = 0.657] independent of the observer's age or gender. The facial image that captured the most attention of the observer (rank 9) was the perioral region with 1.61 (0.73) seconds for younger observers and 1.57 (0.73) seconds for older observers. CONCLUSIONS: It was revealed that the perioral region attracts the most attention of observers and contributes most to an aged facial appearance. Practitioners should be mindful of the importance of the perioral region when designing an aesthetic treatment plan.

[Change of Gaze Pattern depending on the Stage of DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction: a Preliminary Eye-Tracking Investigation]. / Veränderung des Blickmusters in Abhängigkeit des Stadiums der Brustrekonstruktion mittels DIEP Lappenplastik ­ erste Daten einer Eye-Tracking-Analyse.

BACKGROUND: Breast reconstruction using autologous tissue is an integral part of breast cancer treatment. While many studies have elucidated the impact of breast reconstruction on patients' quality of life, self-esteem, sexuality and more, there is a lack of objective data regarding the effects on external observers. Aim of this study was to investigate the change in gaze pattern of independent observers depending on the stage of DIEP-flap breast reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eye-tracking technology was utilized to analyze the eye movements of 58 study participants while viewing 2 D photographs of a patient after mastectomy and different stages of DIEP-flap breast reconstruction. Time until first fixation and total time of fixation were recorded and con- secutively analyzed for the right and left breast on each image. RESULTS: Overall, the total time of fixation of the operated breast decreased significantly over the different stages of breast reconstruction, with p<0.001. At the same time, there was no statistically significant change in total time of fixation of the non-operated breast, with p=0.174. The time until first fixation showed a significant increase over the different stages of reconstruction for the reconstructed breast, with p<0.001, while no significant differences were found for the opposite breast, with p=0.344. CONCLUSION: Mastectomy and the individual steps of breast reconstruction alter the perception of breast cancer patients. Over the course of breast reconstruction, the deviation of gaze in the direction of the affected breast is reversed.