论文
论文标题：The relationship between baseline pupil size and intelligence
作者：Jason S. Tsukahara, Tyler L. Harrison, Randall W. Engle
期刊：Cognitive Psychology
发表时间：2016/11/07
数字识别码：10.1016/j.cogpsych.2016.10.001
摘要：Pupil dilations of the eye are known to correspond to central cognitive processes. However, the relationship between pupil size and individual differences in cognitive ability is not as well studied. A peculiar finding that has cropped up in this research is that those high on cognitive ability have a larger pupil size, even during a passive baseline condition. Yet these findings were incidental and lacked a clear explanation. Therefore, in the present series of studies we systematically investigated whether pupil size during a passive baseline is associated with individual differences in working memory capacity and fluid intelligence. Across three studies we consistently found that baseline pupil size is, in fact, related to cognitive ability. We showed that this relationship could not be explained by differences in mental effort, and that the effect of working memory capacity and fluid intelligence on pupil size persisted even after 23 sessions and taking into account the effect of novelty or familiarity with the environment. We also accounted for potential confounding variables such as; age, ethnicity, and drug substances. Lastly, we found that it is fluid intelligence, more so than working memory capacity, which is related to baseline pupil size. In order to provide an explanation and suggestions for future research, we also consider our findings in the context of the underlying neural mechanisms involved.
原作 Jason S. Tsukahara, Alexander P. Burgoyne, Randall W. Engle
翻译 许楚楚
编辑 魏潇
我们的瞳孔不仅仅会对光线有所反应，它们还能体现一个人的唤起（arousal）、兴趣（interest）或精神耗竭（mental exhaustion）等状态。美国联邦调查局（Federal Bureau of Investigation，FBI）甚至使用瞳孔扩张程度来探测一个人是否存在欺骗行为。如今，我们在美国佐治亚理工学院（Georgia Institute of Technology）的实验室所进行的研究表明，瞳孔基线大小（baseline pupil size）与个体智力的差异密切相关。从有关推理、注意力和记忆力的测试来看，一个人的瞳孔处于基线状态时的直径越大，他的智商就越高。事实上，通过这三项研究，我们还发现，在认知测试中得分最高和最低的被试之间，其瞳孔的基线尺寸差异竟大到可以直接通过肉眼观察到。
这种令人惊讶的联系，是我们在研究人们在记忆任务中所需脑力存在差异性时被发现的。以往，我们通常用瞳孔的扩张程度来衡量一个人在脑力劳动中的努力程度，这一观点由心理学家 Daniel Kahneman 在 20 世纪 60-70 年代推广普及。因此，当我们发现瞳孔基线大小与智力之间存在一定关系时，我们其实并不确定它的真实性，或是这一现象到底意味着什么。
