Gerdts, Hannah Lina (2025) Does Attention Control Moderate the Relationship Between Pupil Size and Performance in a Near-Threshold Detection Task? Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
In visual detection tasks, larger pre-stimulus pupil size is associated with better detection performance. Pupil dilation has also been an indicator of cognitive effort and arousal. The connection between pupil size and arousal is believed to be closely tied to the locus coeruleusnorepinephrine (LC-NE) system. The LC-NE system is also responsible for regulating attention. This study focuses on attention control, as measured by the Attention Control Scale (ACS), and hypothesizes that attention control may moderate the relationship between pupil size and performance on a near-threshold detection task. Additionally, we explored how varying levels of visual 1/f noise influenced this relationship. To test this, we conducted a near-threshold detection task experiment alongside self-reported questionnaires. Results showed that prestimulus pupil size was positively correlated with detection accuracy, indicating better performance with larger pupils. However, attention control did not significantly influence task performance, nor was there a significant interaction between attention control and pupil size or noise. Nonetheless, performance deteriorated as the noise level increased. These findings underscore the need for further research to explore the underlying mechanisms of visual processing, perception, and the role of cognitive factors like attention in it.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Ruuskanen, V.H.S. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route/Track: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Apr 2025 08:21 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Apr 2025 08:21 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4808 |
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