Overview

• The University of Surrey team published its findings in i-Perception after running four gaze‐cueing experiments with 54 participants.
• Participants shifted their attention in response to both averted gazes and face-like patterns embedded in everyday objects.
• Real averted gazes directed focus through feature-based processing of specific eye-region cues.
• Face pareidolia triggered a stronger attentional shift by engaging holistic recognition of object configurations as faces.
• Authors propose that embedding face-like arrangements with prominent eye-like elements in product design could enhance consumer engagement and recall.