How does pupil-based neurofeedback work?
Changes in pupil size are indicative of shifts in arousal controlled by several regions in the brain including the noradrenergic locus coeruleus. For instance, when we are in a highly aroused or alert state, the pupils dilate. Conversely, during states of relaxation or low arousal, the pupils constrict.
By monitoring these changes in pupil size in real-time, users of pupil-based neurofeedback can gain insights into their brain’s arousal levels and can even learn to modulate it through feedback mechanisms. Since the brain’s arousal level is crucial for core cognitive and behavioral functions and influences mental well-being, achieving an optimal arousal state can improve attention, performance, and emotional regulation. Thus, pupil-based neurofeedback provides a pathway to regulate the brain’s arousal level. This bears tremendous potential for the improvement of cognitive functioning and emotional well-being.