The relationship between pupil dilation and working memory, an essential executive function of the brain for processing and storing information, had already been a topic of debate among members of the Gifted project, a collaboration involving high IQ researchers from around the world. Recently, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA, has brought new evidence reinforcing this connection.

Working memory is crucial for both simple daily tasks, such as operating a dishwasher, and for long-term decisions, like remembering to buy more soap. The research, led by Matthew Robison, assistant professor of psychology, and Lauren D. Garner, a doctoral student, delved deeper into the idea that pupil dilation could be a reliable indicator of working memory performance.

Published in the scientific journal Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, the study revealed that individuals’ pupils tend to dilate more when they are focused on a specific task. Interestingly, the findings showed that greater dilation is directly associated with better performance on working memory tests. “We observed that those with superior task performance exhibited more significant pupil dilation, suggesting a greater capacity for concentration and information retention,” explained Robison.

For the study, 179 undergraduate students at UT Arlington were recruited and subjected to various tests. These tests required participants to briefly view information and then remember it. “The conclusions indicate that more intense and consistent attention, as measured by pupil dilation, is associated with superior performance in memory tasks,” added Garner.

This discovery is not only a confirmation of previous debates in the Gifted group but also a step forward in understanding how subtle physiological characteristics can reveal complex cognitive processes, paving the way for future research into variations in working memory among different individuals.