Eye tracking based clustering using the Korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes test

Abstract This study applies eye-tracking paradigms to cluster data based on participants’ gaze patterns, while performing the Korean version of the Reading the Mind in Eyes Test, and to investigate whether there were differences in the neurocognitive and other Theory of Mind (ToM) tests among the cl...

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Main Authors: Se Jun Koo, Eun Jung Cha, Jee Eun Min, Eunchong Seo, Eun Lee, Suk Kyoon An
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88483-6
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author Se Jun Koo
Eun Jung Cha
Jee Eun Min
Eunchong Seo
Eun Lee
Suk Kyoon An
author_facet Se Jun Koo
Eun Jung Cha
Jee Eun Min
Eunchong Seo
Eun Lee
Suk Kyoon An
author_sort Se Jun Koo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study applies eye-tracking paradigms to cluster data based on participants’ gaze patterns, while performing the Korean version of the Reading the Mind in Eyes Test, and to investigate whether there were differences in the neurocognitive and other Theory of Mind (ToM) tests among the classified clusters. A total of 89 (50 males) non-clinical youths were recruited. The k-means algorithm was adopted, and the optimised number of clusters was determined using the elbow, silhouette and NbClust methods. Furthermore, multivariate analysis was employed to determine whether there were differences among the clusters in the neurocognitive and other ToM tests. Four clusters were proposed based on the index used to estimate the optimised cluster. The long word fixation time cluster had significantly more total errors and fewer categories completed in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, lower backward Digit Span score, and lower sequencing scores in the Theory of Mind Picture Stories Task than in the other clusters. The main findings suggested that even when performing a perceptual-level ToM task that requires the ability to understand mental states, at least in some individuals, gaze patterns are related to neurocognitive strategies, especially executive function, rather than to the specific social cognitive function itself.
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spelling doaj-art-f3546ca7f5e544699a1b20835c4e90672025-02-02T12:18:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-88483-6Eye tracking based clustering using the Korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes testSe Jun Koo0Eun Jung Cha1Jee Eun Min2Eunchong Seo3Eun Lee4Suk Kyoon An5Section of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Seoul Medical CenterSection of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineYonseialways Psychiatry ClinicSection of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineSection of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineAbstract This study applies eye-tracking paradigms to cluster data based on participants’ gaze patterns, while performing the Korean version of the Reading the Mind in Eyes Test, and to investigate whether there were differences in the neurocognitive and other Theory of Mind (ToM) tests among the classified clusters. A total of 89 (50 males) non-clinical youths were recruited. The k-means algorithm was adopted, and the optimised number of clusters was determined using the elbow, silhouette and NbClust methods. Furthermore, multivariate analysis was employed to determine whether there were differences among the clusters in the neurocognitive and other ToM tests. Four clusters were proposed based on the index used to estimate the optimised cluster. The long word fixation time cluster had significantly more total errors and fewer categories completed in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, lower backward Digit Span score, and lower sequencing scores in the Theory of Mind Picture Stories Task than in the other clusters. The main findings suggested that even when performing a perceptual-level ToM task that requires the ability to understand mental states, at least in some individuals, gaze patterns are related to neurocognitive strategies, especially executive function, rather than to the specific social cognitive function itself.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88483-6Eye-trackingTheory of mindNeurocognitionK-meansClusteringSpatio-temporal information
spellingShingle Se Jun Koo
Eun Jung Cha
Jee Eun Min
Eunchong Seo
Eun Lee
Suk Kyoon An
Eye tracking based clustering using the Korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes test
Scientific Reports
Eye-tracking
Theory of mind
Neurocognition
K-means
Clustering
Spatio-temporal information
title Eye tracking based clustering using the Korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes test
title_full Eye tracking based clustering using the Korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes test
title_fullStr Eye tracking based clustering using the Korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes test
title_full_unstemmed Eye tracking based clustering using the Korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes test
title_short Eye tracking based clustering using the Korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes test
title_sort eye tracking based clustering using the korean version of the reading the mind in the eyes test
topic Eye-tracking
Theory of mind
Neurocognition
K-means
Clustering
Spatio-temporal information
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88483-6
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