University of Texas at Arlington researchers have linked pupil dilation throughout concentration to improved working memory performance, providing new insights into cognitive function variations.Research from UT Arlington indicates a link in between eye level of sensitivity and boosted working memory.Working memory is a cognitive ability that operates as part of the brains executive capabilities, enabling people to control and manage info while staying focused on their tasks.In the short term, working memory enables the brain to complete an immediate task, like packing the dishwasher. Long term, it helps the brain choose what to store for future usage, such as whether more dishwashing machine soap will be needed.University of Texas at Arlington researchers understand that working memory differs significantly among individuals, but they arent sure exactly why. To better understand, Matthew Robison, assistant teacher of psychology, and doctoral trainee Lauren D. Garner carried out an experiment to see if studying a persons pupils (the centers of their eyes) was an excellent indication of working memory.Matthew Robison. Credit: Photo courtesy UT ArlingtonStudy Methodology and FindingsNormally, a persons pupils naturally expand (or dilate) in low-light environments to allow more light into the eye. In their brand-new research study released in the peer-reviewed journal Attention, Perception & & Psychophysics, the researchers reported that an individuals pupils also dilate when they are concentrating on jobs. In specific, they found that the more an individuals eyes dilated throughout the task, the much better they did on tests determining their working memory.UT Arlington doctoral student and researcher Lauren Garner. Credit: Photo courtesy UT Arlington”What we discovered was that the most affordable performers on the tasks showed less pupil dilation,” Robison said. “For the highest-performing individuals, their pupil dilations were both bigger general and the individuals were more discerning about the info they were asked to recall.”Experimental Procedure and ResultsFor the research study, he and Garner recruited 179 undergraduate students at UT Arlington. Individuals finished a number of working memory tasks where they existed with info and then asked to remember it for a couple of seconds. Throughout the jobs, individuals had their pupils continuously measured using an eye-tracker, comparable to what optometrists utilize throughout eye tests.”We found that individuals who more extremely and consistently paid attention, as determined by their pupils being dilated more, performed better on the memory tasks,” said Robison. “Importantly, we found high entertainers likewise showed more pupil level of sensitivity compared to low-performing individuals. Due to the fact that it includes another valuable piece of the puzzle to our understanding of why working memory varies between individuals, this is exciting research.”Reference: “Pupillary correlates of specific differences in n-back task efficiency” by Matthew K. Robison, and Lauren D. Garner, 7 February 2024, Attention, Perception, & & Psychophysics.DOI: 10.3758/ s13414-024-02853-2The study was funded by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.