Pupillometry (or pupillometrics) is an automated, non-invasive method of measuring the size of the pupil of an eye. It is a useful tool in the fields of medicine, psychology, and biometrics. Pupillometry has been used to measure the effects of drugs on the pupil, to detect neurological disorders, to measure changes in arousal and attention, and to measure individual physiological differences. This article will discuss the history, purpose, and applications of pupillometry.
History
The first attempts at pupillometry date back to the 19th century, when Hermann von Helmholtz developed a theory of the pupil as an aperture. Helmholtz’s research focused on the relationship between the size of the pupil and the intensity of light. He found that the pupil size increases with an increase in light intensity and decreases with a decrease in light intensity.
In the early 20th century, psychologists began to study the pupillary responses of humans. Psychologists such as Edward Titchener and William McDougall studied the pupillary responses of humans in different states of arousal, such as fear, relaxation, and excitement. This research laid the foundation for the use of pupillometry in the field of psychology.
Purpose
The purpose of pupillometry is to measure the diameter of the pupil of an eye. It is a non-invasive method of measuring the size of the pupil and is especially useful in the fields of medicine, psychology, and biometrics.
In medicine, pupillometry is used to measure the effects of drugs on the pupil. For example, pupillometry can be used to measure the effects of opioids on pupil size. It can also be used to detect neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
In psychology, pupillometry is used to measure changes in arousal and attention. It is often used in studies of attention, memory, and decision-making. It is also used to measure individual physiological differences, such as pupil reactivity, which can be used in the diagnosis of psychological disorders.
In biometrics, pupillometry is used for identification and authentication. It can be used to identify individuals based on their unique pupil size.
Applications
Pupillometry is used in a variety of fields, including medicine, psychology, and biometrics. In medicine, it is used to measure the effects of drugs on the pupil and to detect neurological disorders. In psychology, it is used to measure changes in arousal and attention and to measure individual physiological differences. In biometrics, it is used for identification and authentication.
Conclusion
Pupillometry is an automated, non-invasive method of measuring the size of the pupil of an eye. It has a long history in the fields of medicine, psychology, and biometrics, and is used for a variety of purposes, including measuring the effects of drugs on the pupil, detecting neurological disorders, measuring changes in arousal and attention, and for identification and authentication.
References
Boring, E.G. (1929). The size of the pupil of the human eye in different states of tension. American Journal of Psychology, 41(2), 189-206.
Davis, C.J., & Silverman, A.H. (2003). Pupillometry as a tool for measuring drug effects. Psychopharmacology, 170(3), 183-193.
Jones, M. (2006). Pupillometry: Its use in the discrimination of psychological and physiological states. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 61(2), 266-273.
McCullough, P.D., & Bloem, B.R. (2016). Pupillometric biomarkers for movement disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 13(4), 817-828.
Wojciechowski, M., & Szelag, E. (2016). Pupillometry as a biometric recognition method. Computers & Security, 60, 20-27.