Characteristics of fascination: using eye-tracking to explore the impact of spatial frequency on the allocation of attention to nature and urban scenes
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Evidence suggests that natural environments capture attention effortlessly, but the mechanisms responsible for attention restoration are not fully understood. In this study, eye movements were recorded whilst participants rated 20 greyscale images (10 nature, 10 urban) shown in their original form and with low or mid-to-high spatial frequencies removed. Participants made fewer, longer fixations to nature scenes, unless mid-to-high spatial frequencies were removed and explored urban scenes more unless low spatial frequencies were removed. Nature scenes were rated as more pleasant, providing mid-to-high spatial frequencies were present, and identification of objects was easier in urban scenes, particularly when mid-to-high spatial frequencies were removed. Further analysis revealed highly consistent gaze behaviour among participants and differences in search were most prominent in the first 5-6 s of viewing. This shows the potential for using eye movements to study individual differences in the perception of, and attention to, nature and urban environments.
Source: Journal of Cognitive Psychology
Institutions: Liverpool Hope University, University of Salford
Language: English
Topic: Urban Green Space and Health
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409915441