bioRxivJClub
The stabilized gaze signalling hypothesis and the evolution of human eye appearance
bioRxiv · · Preprint · Open access
Kano, Kobayashi + 1 more
Abstract ↗AI summary
The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
The stabilized gaze-signalling hypothesis (SGSH) proposes that depigmented, exposed sclera improves eye-gaze discrimination versus pigmented sclera across variable viewing conditions by preserving joint visibility of iris and outline.
- Why it matters: Claims of human uniqueness in “white sclera” are challenged by primate variation, so the hypothesis targets how readable gaze in social settings could be tested and explained.
- What they did: The framework lays out four testable predictions, including receiver sensitivity across development in humans versus other primates and heritable morphological variation enabling selection, with existing evidence supporting only some perceptual benefits.
- The result: SGSH offers a revised way to evaluate whether social advantages of maintaining visible eye direction during group activities could account for the spread and persistence of depigmentation in humans, pending further tests.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.
- Open access