Publication guidelines and recommendations for pupillary measurement in psychophysiological studies

A variety of psychological and physical phenomena elicit variations in the diameter of pupil of the eye. Changes in pupil size are mediated by the relative activation of the sphincter pupillae muscle (decrease pupil diameter) and the dilator pupillae muscle (increase pupil diameter), innervated by the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches, respectively, of the autonomic nervous system. The current guidelines are intended to inform and guide psychophysiological research involving pupil measurement by (1) summarizing important aspects concerning the physiology of the pupil, (2) providing methodological and data-analytic guidelines and recommendations, and (3) briefly reviewing psychological phenomena that modulate pupillary reactivity. Because of the increased ease and tractability of pupil measurement, the goal of these guidelines is to promote accurate recording, analysis, and reporting of pupillary data in psychophysiological research.

Automated summary

Variations in pupil diameter are influenced by a variety of psychological and physical phenomena, as mediated by the relative activation of the sphincter pupillae muscle and the dilator pupillae muscle innervated by the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system. The current guidelines aim to inform researchers about the physiology of the pupil, provide methodological and data-analytic guidelines, and briefly review psychological phenomena modulating pupillary reactivity in psychophysiological research. The goal is to promote accurate recording, analysis, and reporting of pupillary data.