Eye Movement Patterns Research Articles

Unveiling the gaze: deciphering key factors in selecting knowledge workers through eye-tracking analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the characteristics and visual patterns of successful knowledge workers using quantitative methods, particularly eye-tracking technology. By conducting a systematic review and matching identified factors with theoretical literature, the research aims to uncover key attributes that contribute to the effectiveness of knowledge workers. These insights are intended to improve employee selection processes, ensuring the right candidates are chosen based on their cognitive, behavioral and visual traits.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods approach is employed in this study, consisting of three phases: (1) a systematic literature review identifies key characteristics of successful knowledge workers, (2) these factors are aligned with theoretical frameworks and expert insights to assess their applicability and (3) empirical data is collected through questionnaires and eye-tracking assessments involving ten high-performing site design employees and ten students from Shahid Beheshti University. SPSS software and Tobii Pro Lab tools are used for data analysis to establish correlations between eye movement patterns and attributes of effective knowledge workers.FindingsThe findings reveal that students whose eye movement patterns resemble those of high-performing knowledge workers also share similar cognitive and behavioral characteristics. Identified key attributes include enhanced problem-solving skills, adaptability and effective communication. The study further highlights the potential of eye-tracking technology as a valuable tool in employee selection, offering insights into visual behaviors that correlate with high performance in knowledge work. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the critical traits that optimize organizational performance.Originality/valueThis study presents a novel approach by integrating eye-tracking technology into the knowledge worker selection process. It provides empirical evidence of the visual and cognitive patterns associated with high performance, thereby enhancing the theoretical understanding of knowledge worker selection. The study contributes valuable insights for organizations aiming to refine their hiring practices, emphasizing the importance of both cognitive skills and visual behaviors in candidate assessment. This research lays the groundwork for future studies exploring the intersection of technology and human resource management to optimize workforce effectiveness.

INSIGHT: Combining Fixation Visualisations and Residual Neural Networks for Dyslexia Classification From Eye-Tracking Data.

Current diagnostic methods for dyslexia primarily rely on traditional paper-and-pencil tasks. Advanced technological approaches, including eye-tracking and artificial intelligence (AI), offer enhanced diagnostic capabilities. In this paper, we bridge the gap between scientific and diagnostic concepts by proposing a novel dyslexia detection method, called INSIGHT, which combines a visualisation phase and a neural network-based classification phase. The first phase involves transforming eye-tracking fixation data into 2D visualisations called Fix-images, which clearly depict reading difficulties. The second phase utilises the ResNet18 convolutional neural network for classifying these images. The INSIGHT method was tested on 35 child participants (13 dyslexic and 22 control readers) using three text-reading tasks, achieving a highest accuracy of 86.65%. Additionally, we cross-tested the method on an independent dataset of Danish readers, confirming the robustness and generalizability of our approach with a notable accuracy of 86.11%. This innovative approach not only provides detailed insight into eye movement patterns when reading but also offers a robust framework for the early and accurate diagnosis of dyslexia, supporting the potential for more personalised and effective interventions.

EXPRESS: Global measures of syntactic and lexical complexity are not strong predictors of eye movement patterns in sentence and passage reading.

The link between the cognitive effort of word processing and the eye movement patterns elicited by that word is well established in psycholinguistic research using eye tracking. Yet less evidence or consensus exists regarding whether the same link exists between complexity linguistic complexity measures of a sentence or passage, and eye movements registered at the sentence or passage level. This paper focuses on "global" measures of syntactic and lexical complexity, i.e., the measures that characterise the structure of the sentence or passage rather than aggregate lexical properties of individual words. We selected several commonly used global complexity measures and tested their predictive power against sentence- and passage-level eye movements in samples of text reading from 13 languages represented in the Multilingual Eye Movement Corpus (MECO). While some syntactic or lexical complexity measures elicited statistically significant effects, they were negligibly small and not of practical relevance for predicting the processing effort either in individual languages or across languages. These findings suggest that the "eye-mind" link known to be valid at the word level may not scale up to larger linguistic units.

Modeling of magnetic vestibular stimulation experienced during high-field clinical MRI

BackgroundHigh-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful diagnostic tool but can induce unintended physiological effects, such as nystagmus and dizziness, potentially compromising the comfort and safety of individuals undergoing imaging. These effects likely result from the Lorentz force, which arises from the interaction between the MRI's static magnetic field and electrical currents in the inner ear. Yet, the Lorentz force hypothesis fails to explain observed eye movement patterns in healthy adults fully. This study explores these effects and tests whether the Lorentz force hypothesis adequately explains magnetic vestibular stimulation.MethodsWe developed a mathematical model integrating computational fluid dynamics, fluid-structure interaction solvers, and magnetohydrodynamic equations to simulate the biomechanical response of the cristae ampullares. Using high-resolution micro-CT data of the human membranous labyrinth, we ensured anatomical accuracy. Experimental validation involved measuring horizontal, vertical, and torsional slow-phase eye movements in healthy subjects exposed to varying magnetic field intensities and head positions.ResultsOur model accurately replicates observed nystagmus patterns, predicting slow-phase eye velocities that match experimental data. Results indicate that Lorentz force-induced stimulation of individual cupulae explains variability in eye movements across different magnetic field intensities and head orientations.ConclusionsThis study empirically supports the Lorentz force hypothesis as a valid explanation for magnetic vestibular stimulation, offering new insights into the effects of high-field MRI on the vestibular system. These findings provide a foundation for future research and improved clinical practices.

Eye Movements during Measurements of Visual Vertical in the Poststroke Subacute Phase.

The subjective visual vertical (VV), the visually estimated direction of gravity, is essential for assessing vestibular function and visuospatial cognition. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying altered VV perception in stroke participants with unilateral spatial neglect (USN), specifically by examining their eye movement patterns during VV judgment tasks. Participants with USN demonstrated limited eye movement scanning along a rotating bar, often fixating on prominent ends, such as the top or bottom. This suggests a reflexive response to visually salient areas, potentially interfering with accurate VV perception. In contrast, participants without USN showed broader scanning around the center of the bar. Notably, participants with USN without frontal lobe lesions occasionally exhibited extended scanning that included the bar's center, which was associated with accurate VV judgments. These findings suggest that (1) a tendency to fixate on peripheral, prominent areas and (2) frontal lobe involvement in disengaging and redirecting spatial attention may influence VV perception in USN. Based on these results, targeted rehabilitation strategies that encourage individuals with USN to extend their visual scanning beyond prominent endpoints and include central areas could improve VV accuracy. This study highlights the specific eye movement behaviors contributing to VV misperception, emphasizing the importance of training that broadens scanning to improve VV perception effectively.

Active control over exploration improves memory in toddlers.

Across two experiments, we implemented a novel gaze-contingent eye-tracking paradigm to investigate the early emergence of memory benefits from active control over exploration and to examine how exploratory behaviours affect memory formation in early development. Toddlers (experiment 1: n = 36, 18-36 months; experiment 2: n = 41, 23-36 months) were either allowed to actively control their exploration (active condition) or presented with the same information that they could only passively observe (passive condition in experiment 1; yoked condition in experiment 2). They were then tested in a preferential-looking paradigm in which familiar versus novel stimuli were presented in pairs. Evidence from eye-movement patterns indicates that toddlers demonstrate improved recognition memory when given active control over learning. Toddlers' pace of learning (i.e. visitation rate) explains the recognition improvement in their active exploration. Their memory improvement is also related to individual differences in the systematicity of exploratory behaviour (i.e. sequence entropy). These findings suggest that toddlers exhibit more sophisticated exploratory strategies than previously believed, revealing the early emergence and development of their ability to adapt these strategies to enhance memory and therefore support learning.

Multimodal Reading Strategies in Native and Advanced L2 Korean Speakers: An Eye-Tracking Study of Text, Image, and Auditory Integration

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of auditory input, specifically within the Reading While Listening (RWL) framework, on the comprehension of multimodal texts among native Korean speakers (L1) and advanced Korean learners (L2). Additionally, it explores differential reading strategies and the influence of working memory (WM) capacity on the processing of multimodal content.Methods: Eye-tracking technology was utilized to examine the eye movement patterns of 28 participants (14 L1, 14 L2) as they engaged with multimodal texts consisting of written, visual, and auditory components. Key metrics— including dwell time, fixation count, and saccadic movements—were analyzed to gain insights into the cognitive processing behaviors of both groups. Furthermore, WM capacity was assessed to determine its effect on the adoption of specific reading strategies. Results: The findings revealed that both L1 and L2 learners predominantly focused on textual rather than visual information, with L2 participants exhibiting significantly higher fixation counts and longer fixation durations, indicative of elevated cognitive load. In terms of strategy use, L2 learners relied more on localized, compensatory strategies (e.g., keywordtriggered switching), whereas L1 participants more frequently employed integrative strategies such as content integration reading. Conclusion: The results suggest that while auditory input in RWL contexts can facilitate multimodal comprehension, it does not fully alleviate the heightened cognitive demands observed among L2 learners. Instructional approaches aiming to address these challenges may benefit from incorporating explicit strategy training and considering learners’ WM capacity to optimize multimodal reading outcomes.

An Objective Handling Qualities Assessment Framework of Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing

Assessing handling qualities is crucial for ensuring the safety and operational efficiency of aircraft control characteristics. The growing interest in Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has increased the focus on electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft; however, a comprehensive assessment of eVTOL handling qualities remains a challenge. This paper proposed a handling qualities framework to assess eVTOL handling qualities, integrating pilot compensation, task performance, and qualitative comments. An experiment was conducted, where eye-tracking data and subjective ratings from 16 participants as they performed various Mission Task Elements (MTEs) in an eVTOL simulator were analyzed. The relationship between pilot compensation and task workload was investigated based on eye metrics. Data mining results revealed that pilots’ eye movement patterns and workload perception change when performing Mission Task Elements (MTEs) that involve aircraft deficiencies. Additionally, pupil size, pupil diameter, iris diameter, interpupillary distance, iris-to-pupil ratio, and gaze entropy are found to be correlated with both handling qualities and task workload. Furthermore, a handling qualities and pilot workload recognition model is developed based on Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM), which is subsequently trained and evaluated with experimental data, achieving an accuracy of 97%. A case study was conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. Overall, the proposed framework addresses the limitations of the existing Handling Qualities Rating Method (HQRM), offering a more comprehensive approach to handling qualities assessment.

The PSR corpus: A Persian sentence reading corpus of eye movements

The present study introduces the Persian Sentence Reading (PSR) Corpus, aiming to expand empirical data for Persian, an under-investigated language in research on oculomotor control in reading. Reading research has largely focused on Latin script languages with a left-to-right reading direction. However, languages with different reading directions, such as right-to-left and top-to-bottom, and particularly Persian script-based languages like Farsi and Dari, have remained understudied. This study pioneers in providing an eye movement dataset for reading Persian sentences, enabling further exploration of the influences of unique Persian characteristics on eye movement patterns during sentence reading. The core objective of the study is to provide data about how word characteristics impact eye movement patterns. The research also investigates the characteristics of the interplay between neighboring words and eye movements on them. By broadening the scope of reading research beyond commonly studied languages, the study aims to contribute to an interdisciplinary approach to reading research, exemplifying investigations through various theoretical and methodological perspectives.

Executive function among adults with autism spectrum disorder: An eye-tracking study.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. Eye movement abnormalities are common in ASD, suggesting underlying cognitive impairments such as working memory and response inhibition. However, several investigations suggest deficits in inhibitory control and working memory among individuals with ASD, whereas others indicate performance levels similar to typically developing individuals. The variability observed in executive function (EF) profiles across various tasks and age cohorts underscores the intricate interplay between ASD and cognitive functioning. Therefore, to bridge these gaps and gain a comprehensive understanding of the specific components of EF affected by ASD, this study used eye-tracking technology to analyze cognitive processing. In the working memory task, the clinical group comprised adults with ASD (N = 52), aged between 25 and 47 years (M = 31.65 years, SD = 6.05), while the control group (non-ASD) included individuals (N = 53), aged between 25 and 55 years (M = 33.15 years, SD = 5.92). For the response inhibition task, the clinical group consisted of adults with ASD (N = 50), aged between 25 and 47 years (M = 31.66 years, SD = 6.153), and the control group comprising individuals (N = 56), aged between 25 and 55 years (M = 33.03 years, SD = 5.80). The study revealed that individuals with ASD demonstrate notable impairments and increased errors in EF, encompassing inhibitory control and working memory when compared to non-ASD individuals. Additionally, individuals with ASD exhibited differences in fixation duration, saccade count, and fixation count compared to their non-ASD counterparts, further highlighting the distinct cognitive profile associated with ASD. Analyzing EF in adults with ASD through eye movement patterns provides valuable insights into the underlying cognitive processes and attentional mechanisms at play.

Evaluating Eye Tracking During Dichoptic Video Viewing With Varied Fellow Eye Contrasts in Amblyopia.

This study uses eye tracking to investigate how varying fellow eye (FE) contrast during dichoptic video viewing influences eye movement patterns, and their associations with interocular suppression, visual acuity, and stereoacuity deficit in amblyopia. Eye movements of 27 amblyopic and 8 healthy control participants were recorded during dichoptic viewing of stationary dots and videos with FE contrasts (100%, 50%, 25%, and 10%). Analysis included durations the amblyopic and FE spent in different stimulus regions, fixation switches, and eye deviation, and correlating these with suppression, visual acuity, and stereoacuity. Participants with pronounced suppression, visual acuity, and stereoacuity deficits demonstrated reduced amblyopic eye fixation in the amblyopic eye (AE) region at 100% FE contrast. Lowering FE contrast increased amblyopic eye duration in stimuli presented within the AE region, notably in anisometropic and treated strabismic participants, and strabismic participants exhibiting fixation switches during viewing of dichoptic stationary dots. Even at lower FE contrasts, participants with greater stereoacuity and visual acuity deficits continued to exhibit diminished AE fixation in the AE region. Increased eye deviation was seen in strabismic participants with lowering of FE contrasts. Dichoptic contrast modulation holds promise for reducing suppression with responses varying by amblyopia type and visual function deficits. Larger strabismic angles may hinder binocular benefits of dichoptic treatments. Fixation switches may serve as an indicator of favorable outcomes. Eye tracking is crucial for understanding these dynamics, providing essential insights into visual attention dynamics of the FE and AE, and may serve as a valuable tool in optimization of amblyopia treatments.

Fatigue Detection of Air Traffic Controllers Through Their Eye Movements

Eye movement patterns have become an essential element in modern approaches for identifying air traffic controller fatigue. By observing eye movements among various individuals and environments, researchers have discovered correlations with multiple physiological metrics and cognitive processing abilities. This study involved human-in-the-loop simulations to collect eye movement and fatigue data from air traffic controllers and students. The eye movements were classified into three main types: fixation, saccade, and blink. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the most important indicators. Using support vector machine and random forest models for training and prediction, it was found that the fixation characteristic is significantly important for monitoring air traffic controller fatigue. The implementation of this model has the potential to identify forthcoming instances of controller fatigue during their shifts, thereby helping to avert the possibility of unsafe situations.

A continuum from predictive to online feedback in visuomotor interception.

Interception, essential for activities like driving and sports, can be characterized by varying degrees of predictive behaviour. We developed a visually guided task to explore how target predictability and visibility influenced interception actions. The task featured a falling dot influenced by horizontal velocity, gravity and air friction, with predictability manipulated through external forces that altered the target's trajectory. We also introduced spatial occlusion to limit visual information. Our results show that low target variability favoured predictive behaviours, while high variability led to more reactive responses relying on online feedback. Manual responses displayed increased variability with changes in target motion, whereas eye trajectories maintained constant curvature across conditions. Additionally, higher target variability delayed the onset of hand movements but did not affect eye movement onset, making gaze position a poor predictor of hand position. This distinction highlights the different adaptive patterns in hand and eye movements in response to target trajectory changes. Participants maintained stable interception behaviours within and across sessions, indicating individual preferences for either predictive or more reactive actions. Our findings reveal a dynamic interplay between target predictability and interception, illustrating how humans combine predictive and reactive behaviours to manage external variability.

Perceptual-Motor Abilities and Reversal Frequency of Letters and Numbers in Children Diagnosed with Poor Reading Skills

Purpose: This paper investigated the visual–perceptual and visual–motor skills and the reversal frequency of letters and numbers that mirror one another in one hundred children aged 6–13 years diagnosed with poor reading skills. Methods: TVPS-4th, VMI-6th, and RFT were performed. Age and sex analysis was carried out. The impact of the eye movement patterns in the perceptual–motor skills and laterality–directionality concepts was also estimated to determine the relationship among tests to predict future results. Results: Most children scored between average and 3 stds below average on the motor VMI-6th test, while half of the participants scored between average and 2 stds below average on TVPS-4th. In the RFT, the majority scored between average and 1.5 stds below average. Participants scored higher on the spatial relationship subtest of the TVPS-4th and lower in the VMI-6th test (p<0.001). Statistically significant differences were found between the youngest and oldest participants on the TVPS-4th overall performance, as well as VD, FC and VFG skills (p<0.05). A strong relationship was found between the TVPS-4th and VMI-6th, (p<0.001). RFT results were different among all groups (p<0.05). The RFT was better related to the VMI-6th than TVPS-4th; however, it was statistically insignificant. The horizontal component of the DEM test was the best predictor for the TVPS-4th and ratio for the RFT, without attaining statistical significance. No sex differences were found. Conclusions: Results showed that children with poor reading skills exhibit perceptual–motor and reversal frequency difficulties, which are independent of the oculomotor performance. Considering that visual and motor processing are essential elements of the reading and writing process, their evaluation and treatment should be included as part of the multidisciplinary approach for children with poor reading skills. This would boost the general outcome and contribute to their academic achievement.

Webcams as Windows to the Mind? A Direct Comparison Between In-Lab and Web-Based Eye-Tracking Methods.

There is a growing interest in the use of webcams to conduct eye-tracking experiments over the internet. We assessed the performance of two webcam-based eye-tracking techniques for behavioral research: manual annotation of webcam videos (manual eye-tracking) and the automated WebGazer eye-tracking algorithm. We compared these methods to a traditional infrared eye-tracker and assessed their performance in both lab and web-based settings. In both lab and web experiments, participants completed the same battery of five tasks, selected to trigger effects of various sizes: two visual fixation tasks and three visual world tasks testing real-time (psycholinguistic) processing effects. In the lab experiment, we simultaneously collected infrared eye-tracking, manual eye-tracking, and WebGazer data; in the web experiment, we simultaneously collected manual eye-tracking and WebGazer data. We found that the two webcam-based methods are suited to capture different types of eye-movement patterns. Manual eye-tracking, similar to infrared eye-tracking, detected both large and small effects. WebGazer, however, showed less accuracy in detecting short, subtle effects. There was no notable effect of setting for either method. We discuss the trade-offs researchers face when choosing eye-tracking methods and offer advice for conducting eye-tracking experiments over the internet.

Impact of Situation Awareness Variations on Multimodal Physiological Responses in High-Speed Train Driving.

In safety-critical environments, human error is a leading cause of accidents, with the loss of situation awareness (SA) being a key contributing factor. Accurate SA assessment is essential for minimizing such risks and ensuring operational safety. Traditional SA measurement methods have limitations in dynamic real-world settings, while physiological signals, particularly EEG, offer a non-invasive, real-time alternative for continuous SA monitoring. However, the reliability of SA measurement based on physiological signals depends on the accuracy of SA labeling. This study aims to design an effective SA measurement paradigm specific to high-speed train driving, investigate more accurate physiological signal-based SA labeling methods, and explore the relationships between SA levels and key physiological metrics based on the developed framework. This study recruited 19 male high-speed train driver trainees and developed an SA measurement paradigm specific to high-speed train driving. A method combining subjective SA ratings and task performance was introduced to generate accurate SA labels. The results of statistical analysis confirmed the effectiveness of this paradigm in inducing SA level changes, revealing significant relationships between SA levels and key physiological metrics, including eye movement patterns, ECG features (e.g., heart rate variability), and EEG power spectral density across theta, alpha, and beta bands. This study supports the use of multimodal physiological signals for SA assessment and provides a theoretical foundation for future applications of SA monitoring in railway operations, contributing to enhanced operational safety.

Reading comics: The effect of expertise on eye movements.

The theory of expertise suggests that there should be observable differences in the eye movement patterns between experts and non-experts. Previous studies have investigated how expertise influences eye movement patterns during cognitive tasks like reading. However, the impact of expertise on eye movements in comics, a multimodal form of text, remains unexplored. This article reports on a study that uses eye tracking to examine patterns in the ways that experts and non-experts read comics. Expert participants (14) with experience in reading comics than non-expert participants (17). When controlling for variables such as layout and text quantity, we found significant differences in visual scanning between experts and non-experts. Experts exhibited more frequent saccades and greater amplitude of saccades. Further analysis revealed distinct strategies in processing text and image content between the two groups: the interaction between expertise level and content type in specific AOI showed significant differences across multiple visual measurement metrics, including Average duration of fixations, number of fixations, and number of saccades within AOI. These findings not only support the applicability of the expertise level theory in the field of comic reading but also provide a new perspective for understanding the reading processing of multimodal texts.

Similar Age Preference but Different Attentional Control in Mandatory Hospitalized Individuals who Have Committed Sexual Offenses Against Children and Non-hospitalized Individuals With Self-Reported Sexual Interest in Children.

Thirty-two forensic persons who have committed sexual offenses against children (FP-SOC), 26 non-forensic persons of whom most have committed sexual offenses against children (NFP-SOC), 14 forensic persons who have not committed sexual offenses against children but have committed other offenses (FP-NSOC), and 53 non-forensic persons who have not committed sexual offenses against children (NFP-NSOC) were instructed to solve a cognitive task, while sexual distractors were presented simultaneously. Behavioral performance and eye movements were measured. FP-SOC and NFP-SOC exhibit same age preference patterns for children and adults, but both groups differ significantly with respect to sexual attentional control. Moderate discrimination accuracy and moderate effect sizes resulted for sexual interest, and good discrimination accuracy and large effect sizes were found for attentional control. Good attentional control in the NFP-SOC, probably reflecting superior sexual self-control and self-regulation abilities, might contribute to a better recognition and control of environmental factors in sexual risk situations, preventing them from being detected and convicted. Otherwise, strong cognitive distortions might serve for them as offense justification. We conclude that those non-forensic persons with sexual offense histories against children (NFP-SOC) with sexual interest in children, good attentional self-control and strong cognitive distortions represent a problematic group which should receive more attention regarding further research but also therapy. Future studies should include more suitable and larger control groups, appropriate instruments to measure independent variables, and investigate whether different classifications of pedophilic interest would be better suited to describe the eye movement patterns of our study participants.

Eye Movement Patterns in Russian-Speaking Adolescents with Differing Reading Comprehension Proficiency: Exploratory Scanpath Analysis.

Previous research has indicated that individuals with varying levels of reading comprehension (often used as a proxy for general cognitive ability) employ distinct reading eye movement patterns. This exploratory eye-tracking study aimed to investigate the text-reading process in adolescents with differing reading comprehension, specifically examining how these differences manifest at the global eye movement level through scanpath analysis. Our findings revealed two distinct groups of scanpaths characterized by statistically significant differences in eye movement parameters. These groups were identified as "fast readers" and "slow readers". Both groups exhibited similar oculomotor performance during the initial reading. However, significant differences emerged when they reread and revisited the text. Notably, these findings align with prior research conducted with different samples and languages, although discrepancies emerged in saccade amplitude and first-pass reading behavior. This study contributes to the understanding of how reading comprehension levels are reflected in global eye movement strategies among adolescents. However, limitations inherent in the experimental design, particularly the potential influence of the task on reading patterns, warrant further investigation. Future research should aim to explore these phenomena in more naturalistic reading settings, employing a design specifically tailored to capture the nuances of spontaneous reading behavior.

Fixation patterns in pairs of facial expressions-preferences of self-critical individuals.

So far, studies have revealed some differences in how long self-critical individuals fixate on specific facial expressions and difficulties in recognising these expressions. However, the research has also indicated a need to distinguish between the different forms of self-criticism (inadequate or hated self), the key underlying factor in psychopathology. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to explore fixation patterns for all seven primary emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, contempt, anger, and surprise) and the neutral face expression in relation to level of self-criticism by presenting random facial stimuli in the right or left visual field. Based on the previous studies, two groups were defined, and the pattern of fixations and eye movements were compared (high and low inadequate and hated self). The research sample consisted of 120 adult participants, 60 women and 60 men. We used the Forms of Self-Criticizing and Self-Reassuring Scale to measure self-criticism. As stimuli for the eye-tracking task, we used facial expressions from the Umeå University Database of Facial Expressions database. Eye movements were recorded using the Tobii X2 eye tracker. Results showed that in highly self-critical participants with inadequate self, time to first fixation and duration of first fixation was shorter. Respondents with higher inadequate self also exhibited a sustained pattern in fixations (total fixation duration; total fixation duration ratio and average fixation duration)-fixation time increased as self-criticism increased, indicating heightened attention to facial expressions. On the other hand, individuals with high hated self showed increased total fixation duration and fixation count for emotions presented in the right visual field but did not differ in initial fixation metrics in comparison with high inadequate self group. These results suggest that the two forms of self-criticism - inadequate self and hated self, may function as distinct mechanisms in relation to emotional processing, with implications for their role as potential transdiagnostic markers of psychopathology based on the fixation eye-tracking metrics.