THE EFFECT OF VISUALIZATION UPON THE PUPILLARY REFLEX: A PRELIMINARY STUDY
THE EFFECT OF VISUALIZATION UPON THE PUPILLARY REFLEX: A PRELIMINARY STUDY
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Issue Date
1991
Authors
Fink, Darin
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Abstract
This study examines the effect of visualization upon the pupillary reflexes (contraction and dilation) in healthy participants. Participant's pupils were videotaped while they visualized scenes of 1) a light area, 2) a dark area, 3) a desirable situation, and 4) an undesirable situation. The pupillary responses were later analyzed from the videotape to determine what types of reactions had occurred related to the various images. This study is designed to assess whether the development of certain images in the mind will result in physiological changes associated with the actual physical situation. The hypothesis was supported under the visualization conditions of 1) the light, 2) the desirable situation, and 3) the undesirable situation. Analysis revealed that participants experienced a pupillary contraction of 10.87% under the light visualization condition, a 1.74% average dilation in the desirable visualization, while the undesirable visualization produced an average contraction of 7.85%. These results suggest that, through the use of visualization, the autonomic nervous system function of pupillary contraction or dilation can be consciously influenced.