Eye contact effect: The role of vagal regulation and reactivity, and self-regulation of attention

Eye contact is a crucial aspect of social interactions that may enhance an individual's cognitive performance (i.e. the eye contact effect) or hinder it (i.e. face-to-face interference effect). In this paper, I focus on the influence of eye contact on cognitive performance in tasks engaging executive functions. I present a hypothesis as to why some individuals benefit from eye contact while others do not. I propose that the relations between eye contact and executive functioning are modulated by an individual's autonomic regulation and reactivity and self-regulation of attention. In particular, I propose that individuals with more optimal autonomic regulation and reactivity, and more effective self-regulation of attention benefit from eye contact. Individuals who are less well regulated and over- or under-reactive and who do not employ effective strategies of self-regulation of attention may not benefit from eye contact and may perform better when eye contact is absent. I present some studies that justify the proposed hypothesis and point to a method that could be employed to test them. This approach could help to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying the individual differences in participant's cognitive performance during tasks engaging executive functions.
Author(s): Alicja Niedzwiecka [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.12847.38, 0000 0004 1937 1290, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, , Stawki 5/7, 01-121, Warsaw, Poland This paper presents a hypothesis regarding [...]