Quantification of Visual Attention by Using Eye-Tracking Technology for Soundscape Assessment Through Physiological Response

Because soundscapes affect human health and comfort, methodologies for evaluating them through physiological responses have attracted considerable attention. In this study, we proposed a novel method for evaluating visual attention by using eye-tracking technology to objectively assess soundscape perception. The study incorporated questionnaire surveys and physiological measurements focusing on visual attention responses. Results from the questionnaire indicated that perceptions of vehicles and the sky were 6% and 26% more sensitive, respectively, whereas perceptions of vegetation, based on physiological responses, were approximately 3% to 50% more sensitive. The soundscape quality prediction model indicates that the proposed methodology can complement conventional questionnaire-based models and provide a nuanced interpretation of eventfulness relationships. Additionally, the visual attention quantification technique enhanced the restoration responses of questionnaire-based methods by 1–2%. The results of this study are significant because the study introduces a novel methodology for quantifying visual attention, which can be used as a supplementary tool for physiological responses in soundscape research. The proposed method can uncover novel mechanisms of human perception of soundscapes that may not be captured by questionnaires, providing insights for future research in soundscape evaluation through physiological measurements.