What Does Pupil Size Say About Us?
A fascinating study conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology suggests that pupil size is closely related to intelligence level. According to the researcher’s findings, larger pupil size was linked to higher levels of intelligence (as measured by reasoning, attention, and memory assessments).
Across three different studies, researchers found that between those who scored the highest on cognitive assessments and those who scored the lowest, the difference in baseline pupil size was large enough to even be detected by the naked eye!
What exactly is the reason for this correlation? Scientists explain that pupil size is related to activity in a part of the brain called the locus coeruleus. The locus coeruleus releases norepinephrine, which regulates brain processes such as attention, learning, perception, and memory, and maintains healthy brain activity. Dysfunction of the locus coeruleus has been linked to several diseases including ADHD and Alzheimer’s.
Their hypothesis is that those with larger pupil sizes have better regulation of brain activity by the locus coeruleus, which boosts cognitive performance in areas of fluid intelligence, attention control, and working memory capacity. Looks like eyes are truly the windows to the soul and more!