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Pupillometry and Memory: External Signals of Metacognitive Control

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Handbook of Biobehavioral Approaches to Self-Regulation

Abstract

For centuries, researchers have examined the dynamics of pupil dilation and constriction, as it is well known that pupil size is affected by many physical stimuli, including ambient lighting and temperature (e.g., Fontana, Dei moti dell’iride, 1765). Less well known is that the pupils also dilate in response to nonphysical stimuli, such as emotions and thoughts. These latter changes, phasic pupillary reflexes, follow the onset of cognitive processing. The neurophysiological mechanisms of these reflexes have been attributed to autonomic nervous system activity, including parasympathetic nervous system areas that are controlled by the locus coeruleus–norepinephrine (LC-NE) system of the brain. Tight correspondences between single-cell firing rates in the monkey LC-NE system and concomitant pupil dilation/constriction suggest that the LC-NE system is critically involved in controlling phasic pupillary changes. Relevant to students of memory, the LC-NE system is also involved in memory consolidation, and is active during retrieval. Animal models reveal close correspondence between accurate learning and memory and the involvement of the autonomic system, and stimulation of the vagus nerve is associated with memory formation and consolidation. Because of the connection between pupillary reflexes and neuroanatomical structures related to memory, researchers have recently used pupillometry to investigate questions of human memory. In this chapter, we review that evidence, and discuss phasic pupillary reflexes in relation to subjective feelings of memory, including feelings of future memory during learning. Such findings suggest a tight connection between pupillary changes and self-regulated cognition, and point toward new approaches to study the motivation–cognition interface.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In fact, a recent ocular-health trend inspired by Lady Gaga, the use of “circle lenses,” is designed to do the same thing, but without drugs. Because of the physical risks (such as blindness!), the FDA never approved their use in the USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 236 Audubon Hall, 70803, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Megan H. Papesh PhD

  2. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 85287-1104, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Stephen D. Goldinger PhD

Authors
  1. Megan H. Papesh PhD
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  2. Stephen D. Goldinger PhD
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Correspondence to Megan H. Papesh PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geneva Motivation Lab, FPSE Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland

    Guido H.E. Gendolla

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Mattie Tops

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Sander L. Koole

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Papesh, M., Goldinger, S. (2015). Pupillometry and Memory: External Signals of Metacognitive Control. In: Gendolla, G., Tops, M., Koole, S. (eds) Handbook of Biobehavioral Approaches to Self-Regulation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1236-0_9

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