One of the most common human gestures, the pointing finger, appears frequently in Old Master paintings as a guiding cue. However, its influence on viewers' gaze has never been systematically investigated. Researchers in experimental art history at the University of Vienna used eye-tracking methods to analyse whether and how viewers' eyes follow pointing gestures in works by renowned artists such as Raphael, Giorgione, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt. The experiment shows that pointing gestures shape visual attention, but not in the expected linear way. Although the fingers are barely noticed, they spark curiosity about the faces of pointing figures and reshape narrative connections. They also draw the gaze toward the area indicated by the gesture, but the exact choice of target remains flexible. The study was published in Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.

With heart disease as the leading cause of death worldwide, there is growing recognition that recovery is not only physical but also emotional and social. A new study shows that strong and supportive relationships can indeed improve heart health for individuals with cardiovascular disease. The work is described in an article in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, published by Elsevier, which calls for intimate partners to be included in cardiac rehabilitation programs to support long-term heart health and quality of life for both members of the couple.