Primates' use of others' gaze

Abstract

For humans and many other animals, being gazed at can be a powerful stimulus. In many species too, one individual gazing toward something in the environment may influence where another individual looks; gaze direction can potentially convey much information. Observational and experimental studies have aimed to throw light on the contexts and functions of this kind of information gathering, the neural substrates underlying gaze perception, impairments to its effectiveness, and the role of different cues in the transfer of information. In humans, early gaze-tracking leads to joint attention and ultimately to hypotheses about other individuals' emotional and cognitive states. In nonhuman primates, responses to gaze cues from other individuals suggest the evolution of a mosaic of abilities and sensitivities, some of which are explored in the present chapter. © 2008 Springer Japan.