Pupillary manifolds: uncovering the latent geometrical structures behind phasic changes in pupil size

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Nov. 8, 2024

The size of the pupils reflects directly balance different branches autonomic nervous system. This measure is inexpensive, non-invasive, and has provided invaluable insights on a wide range mental processes, from attention to emotion executive functions. Two outstanding limitations current pupillometry research are lack consensus in analytical approaches, which vary wildly across groups disciplines, fact that, unlike other neuroimaging techniques, lacks dimensionality shed light sources observed effects. In words, provides an integrated readout several distinct networks, but it unclear whether each specific fingerprint, stemming its function or physiological substrate. Here we show that phasic changes pupil inherently low-dimensional, with modes highly consistent behavioral tasks very nature, suggesting these occur along pupillary manifolds constrained by underlying structures rather than These results provide not only unified approach analyze data, also opportunity for physiology psychology refer same processes tracing reported biology.

Language: Английский

Catching Mind Wandering With Pupillometry: Conceptual and Methodological Challenges

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Cognitive Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 22, 2024

ABSTRACT Mind‐wandering (MW) refers to the shift of attention away from an ongoing task and/or external environment towards mental contents (e.g., memories, prospective thoughts) unrelated task. Physiological measures pupil size, EEG, and fMRI) have often been acquired as objective markers for MW states, which has greatly helped their study well triangulation with other measures. Pupillometry in particular used a covert biomarker because it is reliably modulated by several distinct processes spanning arousal, emotion, attention, signals attentional lapses. Yet, coupling measurement size led seemingly contrasting results. We argue that, common studies reviewed here, one reason resolving tonic reflects low‐frequency, slow changes one's physiological state, thus implicitly assumes that static, long‐lasting process. then additionally focus on three major axes variability studies: (i) definition MW; (ii) impact contextual aspects, such demands individual arousal levels; (iii) identification tracking combination pupillary provide overview these differences put forward recommendations using measures—including, but not limited to, size—in research effectively. In conclusion, pupillometry can be very informative tool research, provided due methodological caution.

Language: Английский