ИСТИНА

The role of holistic processing in face perception is actively discussed. The impact of holistic processing on eye movements during face perception is still not well understood. Our aim was to reveal eye movement strategies using the face inversion effect (FIE) as a well-established marker of holistic processing. Fifty seven participants (27 F, 30 M, age range 18-28) were tested. Stimuli were 10 photographs (5 female and 5 male faces). Nine modifications were created for each photograph to impair the facial attractiveness: the distance between eyes or between mouth and nose has been changed. Stimuli were presented in the upright or inverted orientation for 3 seconds. The task was to rate the facial attractiveness on a scale from 1 to 9. During the execution participant’s eye movements were recorded. It was found that the dispersion of attractiveness scores was significantly higher for upright faces. AOI analysis for the first three fixations showed the same distribution patterns on main features regardless of the facial orientation. Then for each participant the ratio of average fixation durations to saccade amplitudes was calculated. Using this ratio the whole sample was divided into two groups: the holistic and analytic processors. When looking at upright faces holistic processors spent less time in the area of eyes and lips, and more time in the whole area of nose and nose bridge, than analytic processors. Thus, differences in analytic and holistic face processing can be revealed analyzing eye movement strategies in FIE effect. Funded by RSF grant, project №19-18- 00474