In the Eyes of the Beholder: The Application of Eye-tracking Methodology to Sexuality Research

Title
In the Eyes of the Beholder: The Application of Eye-tracking Methodology to Sexuality Research
Publication Date
2005
Author(s)
Lykins, Amy
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2930-3964
Email: alykins@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:alykins
Meana, Marta
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
International Academy of Sex Research (IASR)
Place of publication
Ottawa, Canada
UNE publication id
une:10513
Abstract
The fact that sexual experiences are private and socio-culturally laden has presented significant methodological challenges to those interested in understanding their characteristics. In an effort to encourage sex researchers to expand upon our base of methodology, several prominent investigators have challenged use to explore familiar terrain using unfamiliar techniques. Relatively recent scientific developments (e.g. PET, fMRI) are allowing us to explore arguably the most important sexual organ, the human brain, as never before. In the last decade, Geer and others have applied techniques developed in cognitive psychology, including memory tasks, priming studies, and network organization modeling, to sex research. The information processing approach (IPA), which examines both molar (i.e., schematic-type) and molecular (i.e., attentional) processes, has guided much of the research on the role of cognition in sexuality to date. A currently under-explored area remains the role of visual attention in sexual situations. To this end, we tested the utility and validity of eye-tracking as applied to sexuality research. Eye-tracking is an unobtrusive, continuous measure of visual attention and cognitive processing. The eye-tracker records eye movements as the participant is presented with different visual stimuli, thus providing detailed information about how the visual environment is acquired, represented, and stored. We believe eye-tracking methodology has the potential to inform us in an objective way about what individuals attend to when exposed to visually erotic situations, and, maybe even, how they do so.
Link
Citation
31st Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Sex Research Book of Abstracts, p. 52-52
Start page
52
End page
52

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