Age-related changes in pupil dynamics and task modulation across the healthy lifespan

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Pupil dynamics reflect brain functioning, influenced by luminance, arousal, and cognitive signals.
• Limited research exists on lifespan changes in pupil dynamics, hindering applications in developmental and aging studies.
• Understanding age-related pupil changes is crucial for assessing brain health and neurological conditions across the lifespan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related changes in pupil dynamics using the interleaved pro-/anti-saccade task (IPAST).
• To characterize factors influencing pupil responses across different age groups.
• To explore the relationship between pupil dynamics and saccade behaviors throughout the lifespan.

Main Methods:

• Examined pupil responses in 567 healthy participants aged 5-93 years during the IPAST.
• Extracted and analyzed various pupil dynamic measures.
• Correlated pupil dynamics with saccade behaviors to identify shared neural processes.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated significant age-related changes in pupil measures and task modulation.
• Identified underlying factors and age-related effects on pupil response components.
• Revealed correlations between pupil dynamics and saccade behaviors, suggesting shared neural control.

Conclusions:

• Pupil dynamics exhibit significant changes across the lifespan due to development and aging.
• These findings establish a normative baseline for studying altered pupil responses in neurological conditions at various ages.
• The study highlights the utility of pupil dynamics as a biomarker for brain functioning across the lifespan.