Pupillometry in the Assessment of Emotional State and Cognitive Functions in Human

Abstract

Pupillometry is a method allowing quantitative assessment of the pupil diameter. The size of the pupil is regulated by the structures of autonomic nervous system (nuclei of the oculomotor nerve, ciliospinal center) and related to the ambient lighting. However, overlying structures of the brain, in particular cortex, via locus coeruleus, upper colliculi of quadrigeminal bodies modulate the pupillary response regardless ambient lighting condition. Thus the baseline diameter of the pupil and its changes associated with certain tasks could be used for the objective assessment of the emotional state and cognitive functions in a human. There are data showing the changes in the pupillary response in patients with autism spectrum disorder, depression as well as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other organic disorders of the brain. More research in pupillometry is needed to identify new areas for its use.