Unlocking human potential through eye tracking

Get real-time insights into cognitive states based on eye tracking data.

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How eye tracking enables cognitive insights

SOMA analyzes eye movements closely linked to cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and decision-making. Specific patterns, like saccades or fixations, can indicate how information is processed and which cognitive tasks are engaged.

Practical benefits of this technology

Discover how SOMA’s eye tracking analytics can transform your operations, enhancing safety, productivity, and user experience.

Enhance Safety

Monitor cognitive states in real-time to prevent fatigue-related accidents and ensure operational safety.

Reduce Training Cost

Optimize your training programs by leveraging real-time cognitive insights, enabling more focused, effective learning experiences.

Improve ProductivitySafety

Identify cognitive overload before it leads to errors, helping maintain focus and efficiency across tasks.

Unlock Human Potential

Empower your team, getting them to perform at their best while maintaining focus and resilience in high-demand environments.

Looking does NOT equal paying attention

“At SOMA we go beyond just where people look. Our advanced cognitive biomarkers reveal deep insights into cognitive processes, offering a clear picture of mental engagement.”

TRADITIONAL EYE TRACKING
CONSCIOUS PERCEPTION HEATMAP

The Science behind

Discover how SOMA transforms eye movements into objective cognitive biomarkers backed by science and in-house validation.

Quantitative measures of Cognition

Our cutting edge algorithms are built on at least 15 years of in-house cognitive science and vision research demonstrating that eye movements provide a measurable window into human thought processes. We are a non-invasive approach, placing high value on data privacy.

A key part of our work involves pupillometry, which is highly sensitive to changes in brightness and vergence. Our core expertise lies in separating genuine cognitive signals-such as mental effort and attentional allocation-from environmental noise like lighting conditions or display luminance. By analyzing fixation duration, saccadic patterns, pupil dynamics, and visual search efficiency, we extract quantitative algorithms that directly reflect underlying cognitive functions. These algorithms are not subjective interpretations; they are derived from well-established links between oculomotor behavior and neural activity. Because gaze behavior is tightly coupled with cognition, it enables an objective, temporally precise, and real-time assessment of attention, working memory, processing speed, and executive control.

Importantly, our approach prioritizes flexibility in sampling rates and is not constrained to high-frequency data. This makes our models particularly adaptable and well-suited for integration into power-sensitive devices such as smartglasses, where energy efficiency is critical. At the base of it, using advanced statistical modeling and machine learning, we are able to transform raw eye tracking data into structured, interpretable cognitive intelligence. Our system identifies reproducible patterns associated with mental effort, attentional allocation, and perceptual engagement, but rather than relying on black-box AI, we follow a hybrid strategy that combines rule-based models with machine learning. This allows us to maintain interpretability while leveraging machine learning to enhance accuracy and robustness.

Validated in-house and peer reviewed

Scientific rigor defines our development process.

Our research team conducts systematic in-house experimentation using controlled task paradigms designed to isolate specific cognitive functions. Each algorithm is tested for sensitivity, robustness, and reproducibility across diverse conditions and participant groups. This ensures that our metrics respond accurately and predictably to changes in cognitive demand and perform reliably in real-world applications.

Overtime, we continuously refine our models using experimental datasets, benchmark comparisons, and complementary neurophysiological validation frameworks, including EEG-based paradigms. This cross-validation confirms alignment between physiological signals and established cognitive constructs.

Through this iterative process, we ensure our algorithms remain scientifically sound, technologically advanced, and grounded in empirical evidence.

Cognitive Algorithms

Individual Algorithm 1

Cognitive Load

Understanding mental effort

01

Real-time & Continuous

Enabling the objective measurement of Cognitive Load from pupillometry in real-time.

02

Compensating Brightness Changes

The only approach on the market that compensates for changes in environmental brightness.

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01
Individual Algorithm 2

Conscious Perception Index (CPI)

Perceiving and processing information

01

Internal vs. External

Looking does not always mean perceiving. CPI differentiates between inward-focused thought and active engagement with the external environment.

02

Level of engagement and interaction

CPI analyzes gaze patterns to provide interpretation of the intensity of engagement and quality of interactions.

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02
Individual Algorithm 3

Attention Type Classifier (ATC)

Detecting attention levels when it oscillates

01

Breaking Down Gaze Behaviour

ATC evaluates fixation stability, gaze distribution, and saccadic movement to characterize visual attention patterns in real-world situations.

02

Focused vs. Switched Attention

Detects whether attention is sustained on an area or dynamically shifting across the visual field.

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03
Individual Algorithm 4

Cognitive Fatigue (CF)

Evaluating mental depletion over time

01

Continuous Fatigue Modeling

Quantifies Cognitive Fatigue as a continuous score, capturing subtle changes in mental endurance in real time.

02

Detecting Impact on Human Performance

Provides critical context for understanding performance variability, where fatigue can influence safety or learning outcomes

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04
Individual Algorithm 5

Cognitive Performance

Understanding overall mental effectiveness

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Multidimensional Performance Modeling

Synthesizes critical cognitive and operational variables—including cognitive load, environmental familiarity, resilience, execution precision, efficiency, and response speed—into a single, high-resolution performance index.

02

Holistic Performance Insight

Delivers a unified metric that reveals how individuals perform under varying levels of demand, enabling objective evaluation across training, operational, and real-world environments.

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05

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Reach out to us, we’d love to explore a custom project together tailored to your needs.
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Easy setup from the get go

Our eye tracking system is designed for simplicity. Quick to set up, intuitive to use and easy to understand. It integrates seamlessly into your existing processes.

01

Choose your hardware

Use your preferred eye tracking device. Our software is hardware-agnostic and compatible with well-established eye trackers on the market, allowing you to select the setup that best fits your environment and application.

02

Calibrate & Record

Pair your device with our software and calibrate the user in under 2 minutes to establish a reliable baseline. Calibration is fast and guided through short setup tasks, ensuring accurate data collection with minimal preparation time.

03

Upload & Analyze

Launch the SOMA Aware dashboard, upload your eye tracking video and data, and process your session to generate cognitive results. The platform visualizes cognitive load, perception, attention, and fatigue metrics, ready for export and integration into your workflow.

Scientific Publications

We are continuously deepening and validating the measurement of human cognition via publications in recognized academic journals and attendance at international conferences.

Immediate and delayed effects of refutation and standard expository texts on the learning of scientific concepts: Evidence from eye movements. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 64, 101935

Investigates how different types of instructional text influence learning, with eye-tracking providing insights into how students process and retain information.

The mirror neuron system and observational learning: Implications for the effectiveness of dynamic visualizations. Educational Psychology Review, 22(1), 47-72.

This study explores how eye-tracking can provide insight into learning processes, particularly in observing and mimicking tasks in educational contexts.

Effects of divided attention on memory-guided visual search: Evidence from eye movements. Cognition, 177, 48-58.

Investigates the impact of divided attention on memory-guided visual search, using eye-tracking to provide insight into attentional control during memory retrieval.

The eyes have it: Hippocampal activity predicts expression of memory in eye movements. Neuron, 63(5), 592-599.

Shows how hippocampal activity is related to memory-guided eye movements, revealing how eye-tracking can predict the expression of memory.

Memory for the where, when, and who of events: The role of the hippocampus in binding multiple dimensions of episodic memory. Journal of Neuroscience, 30(43), 14245-14255.

Examines how eye-tracking can be used to investigate the role of the hippocampus in episodic memory, specifically in tracking where, when, and who of past events.

Social value orientation and information search in social dilemmas: An eye-tracking analysis. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 120(2), 272-284.

Uses eye-tracking to understand how individuals process information in social dilemmas and how their social value orientations influence their decision-making.

How distinct are intuition and deliberation? An eye-tracking analysis of instruction-induced decision modes. Judgment and Decision Making, 4(5), 335-354.

Investigates decision-making under different cognitive strategies, using eye-tracking to distinguish between intuitive and deliberate modes of thinking.

An eye-tracking study on information processing in risky decisions: Evidence for compensatory strategies based on automatic processes. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 24(1), 71-98.

This study explores the cognitive processes behind risky decision-making, showing how eye-tracking can differentiate between automatic and deliberate strategies.

The role of visual attention in saccadic eye movements. Perception & Psychophysics, 65(5), 766-779.

Focuses on how visual attention affects saccadic eye movements, revealing insights into attentional selection and perception.

Meaning-based guidance of attention in scenes as revealed by meaning maps. Nature Human Behaviour, 1(10), 743-747.

Investigates how meaningful regions of a scene guide visual attention, using eye-tracking to link cognitive processing with gaze patterns.

Misdirection in magic: Implications for the relationship between eye gaze and attention. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 73(7), 211-223.

This paper uses eye-tracking to explore how attention can be misdirected by magicians, revealing insights into visual attention and perception.

Orthographic and semantic processing in Chinese word recognition: Insights from eye movements. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 43(3), 496-507.

Examines how orthography and semantics influence Chinese word recognition through eye movements.

Tracking the mind during reading: The influence of past, present, and future words on fixation durations. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 135(1), 12-35.

Although slightly earlier than 2010, this is a key study that uses eye-tracking to explore how context (past, present, and future words) influences fixation durations in reading.

Don’t believe what you read (only once): Comprehension is supported by regressions during reading. Psychological Science, 25(6), 1218-1226.

This study explores the role of eye regressions (backtracking in reading) in comprehension processes using eye-tracking data.

Immediate and delayed effects of refutation and standard expository texts on the learning of scientific concepts: Evidence from eye movements. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 64, 101935

Investigates how different types of instructional text influence learning, with eye-tracking providing insights into how students process and retain information.

The mirror neuron system and observational learning: Implications for the effectiveness of dynamic visualizations. Educational Psychology Review, 22(1), 47-72.

This study explores how eye-tracking can provide insight into learning processes, particularly in observing and mimicking tasks in educational contexts.

Effects of divided attention on memory-guided visual search: Evidence from eye movements. Cognition, 177, 48-58.

Investigates the impact of divided attention on memory-guided visual search, using eye-tracking to provide insight into attentional control during memory retrieval.

The eyes have it: Hippocampal activity predicts expression of memory in eye movements. Neuron, 63(5), 592-599.

Shows how hippocampal activity is related to memory-guided eye movements, revealing how eye-tracking can predict the expression of memory.

Memory for the where, when, and who of events: The role of the hippocampus in binding multiple dimensions of episodic memory. Journal of Neuroscience, 30(43), 14245-14255.

Examines how eye-tracking can be used to investigate the role of the hippocampus in episodic memory, specifically in tracking where, when, and who of past events.

Social value orientation and information search in social dilemmas: An eye-tracking analysis. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 120(2), 272-284.

Uses eye-tracking to understand how individuals process information in social dilemmas and how their social value orientations influence their decision-making.

How distinct are intuition and deliberation? An eye-tracking analysis of instruction-induced decision modes. Judgment and Decision Making, 4(5), 335-354.

Investigates decision-making under different cognitive strategies, using eye-tracking to distinguish between intuitive and deliberate modes of thinking.

An eye-tracking study on information processing in risky decisions: Evidence for compensatory strategies based on automatic processes. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 24(1), 71-98.

This study explores the cognitive processes behind risky decision-making, showing how eye-tracking can differentiate between automatic and deliberate strategies.

The role of visual attention in saccadic eye movements. Perception & Psychophysics, 65(5), 766-779.

Focuses on how visual attention affects saccadic eye movements, revealing insights into attentional selection and perception.

Meaning-based guidance of attention in scenes as revealed by meaning maps. Nature Human Behaviour, 1(10), 743-747.

Investigates how meaningful regions of a scene guide visual attention, using eye-tracking to link cognitive processing with gaze patterns.

Misdirection in magic: Implications for the relationship between eye gaze and attention. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 73(7), 211-223.

This paper uses eye-tracking to explore how attention can be misdirected by magicians, revealing insights into visual attention and perception.

Orthographic and semantic processing in Chinese word recognition: Insights from eye movements. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 43(3), 496-507.

Examines how orthography and semantics influence Chinese word recognition through eye movements.

Tracking the mind during reading: The influence of past, present, and future words on fixation durations. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 135(1), 12-35.

Although slightly earlier than 2010, this is a key study that uses eye-tracking to explore how context (past, present, and future words) influences fixation durations in reading.

Don’t believe what you read (only once): Comprehension is supported by regressions during reading. Psychological Science, 25(6), 1218-1226.

This study explores the role of eye regressions (backtracking in reading) in comprehension processes using eye-tracking data.

Find more insights in our whitepapers

Explore our comprehensive whitepapers to dive deep into the future of cognitive monitoring and eye tracking analytics.
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Questions?

Find quick answers to some of the most common questions about SOMA’s eye-tracking technology, applications, and how it can revolutionize your cognitive insights.

What support and training are available for new users of SOMA’s technology?

Our team assists you with any needs that you might have during setup or ongoing operation.

What is your pricing model?

We offer either a yearly license model per biomarker or lifetime access. For more information and a concrete offer please contact us.

Does your system work outside the laboratory?

Yes, our system can be used in various settings, including during movement and under changing brightness conditions. There is no limitation on where cognitive changes based on eye-tracking can be monitored.

How does SOMA’s eye-tracking analytics differ from traditional EEG and fNIRS systems?

While EEG and fNIRS use sensors to measure brain activity directly, eye tracking-based cognitive analytics combine the power of (i) obtaining insights from well understood psychophysiologic phenomena via pupillometry, (ii) perception-related metrics describing how people gather information, and (iii) enabling the contextualization of cognition and perception to actual objects and ongoing activities via using eye gaze as pointer of visual attention. Moreover, due to the simple setup in comparison to EEG and fNIRS, eye trackers can be worn during any activity, thus take cognitive insights to new levels of practicability.

How can I integrate SOMA’s technology into my existing systems?

Our analytics can get integrated into any eye tracking system. No eye tracking system? No problem, we help you find the right solution. If you are a developer yourself we also offer an SDK. For more information please contact us.

What eye tracking hardware do you support?

Our technology works with any eye tracking solution on the market. That being said, we recommend using Tobii, Pupil Labs or ViewPointSystems.

How to work with us

01

Contact us via contact form

Reach out to us and we’ll get back to you to discuss your specific needs and how we can help.
02

Define your needs

We’ll work closely with you to understand your goals and customize a solution that fits your requirements.
03

Implement the solution

Once everything is aligned, our team will assist in seamlessly integrating our technology into your operations.

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