Abstract
In the present study, we investigated whether indenting the sides of novel objects (e.g., product packaging) would influence where people grasp, and hence focus their gaze, under the assumption that gaze precedes grasping. In Experiment 1, the participants grasped a selection of custom-made objects designed to resemble typical packaging forms with an indentation in the upper, middle, or lower part. In Experiment 2, eye movements were recorded while the participants viewed differently-sized (small, medium, and large) objects with the same three indentation positions tested in Experiment 1, together with a control object lacking any indentation. The results revealed that irrespective of the location of the indentation, the participants tended to grasp the mid-region of the object, with their index finger always positioned slightly above its midpoint. Importantly, the first visual fixation tended to fall in the cap region of the novel object. The participants also fixated for longer in this region. Furthermore, participants saccaded more often, as well saccading more rapidly when directing their gaze to the upper region of the objects that they were required to inspect visually. Taken together, these results therefore suggest that different spatial locations on target objects are of interest to our eyes and hands.
Highlights
Over the years, a large body of fundamental experimental research has highlighted a number of key behavioral parameters underlying basic reach-to-grasp actions in the laboratory setting
The results of Experiment 1 clearly demonstrate that when participants are presented with a tall cylindrical novel object with an indentation, they will likely direct their hand toward the uppermiddle part, grasping the object slightly above its midpoint
The grasp location did not differ between objects with indentations in the upper and middle positions, it would appear numerically as though the participants tended to grasp the novel object in its middle
Summary
A large body of fundamental experimental research has highlighted a number of key behavioral parameters underlying basic reach-to-grasp actions in the laboratory setting. The answer to this question may provide valuable hints concerning these processes with respect to everyday settings. One relevant question here is whether people grasp and look at novel objects in predictable ways: Do they, for instance, grasp at the location where they fixate initially, or does the hand grasp a position that is different from the the position chosen by the eyes? It has potentially important implications for ergonomics, marketing, and product development, since the front of product packaging is used to transmit key information to the consumer
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