People Hold the Great Interest in a Photo

Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) have determined that people capture the attention of individuals viewing an image above all else. Even the most breathtaking landscape takes second place if someone is also present in the image.

This investigation was led by Penn State professor of communication sciences and disorders Krista Wilkinson. The work could be used to develop better visual-scene displays (VSD), scientific tools used to help children suffering from conditions such as Down syndrome.

“So little is known about the allocation of visual attention to humans in photographs for any population. We felt it was necessary to begin by mapping out basic patterns of visual attention in nondisabled participants as a precursor to considering the potential impact of development and disability on these patterns,” Wilkinson explains.