A methodological proposal for the study of attentional bias in the emotional evaluation of images using eye tracking

Authors

  • Montserrat Portuguez Pasante de Psicología de la FES Iztacala UNAM, Edo Mex.
  • Lázaro Blanco-Limés Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias de la Salud,  Unidad Santo Tomás, Instituto Politécnico Nacional
  • Roberto Jiménez-Castillo División de Investigación y Posgrado. Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • Javier Vila Carranza División de Investigación y Posgrado. Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29059/rpcc.20250601-195

Abstract

Attentional bias refers to differences in stimulus processing. The IAPS are standardized images used to study attention, classified by valence: positive, negative, and neutral. This study evaluated a methodology to analyze attentional bias using eye tracking with positive and neutral images. An eye tracker measured viewing time, latency, and the number of fixations. Forty students participated, divided into two groups: VP-VN and VN-VN. Twenty-two slides were presented, each containing two images. The VP-VN group viewed positive and neutral images, while the VN-VN group saw only neutral ones. A total of 66 images were used, 44 of which were neutral (half repeated across both groups). After the slide disappeared, a cross appeared in the location of one of the images, and participants indicated its position. In the VP-VN group, positive images attracted more attention, with longer viewing times, more fixations, and shorter latency when the cross appeared below them. These findings suggest that positive images receive more attention, validating this methodology for studying attentional bias.

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Published

2025-06-01

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2025): Enero-Junio

Section

Investigación empírica y análisis teórico

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