Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00653

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Pupil dilation as a physiological marker of metacognitive processes.

Lenzoni, S. ; Horngacher, J. ; Kofler, J. ; Gat, O. ; Hämmerer, D. (Last author)DZNE*

2026
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109309

Abstract: Metacognition plays a crucial role in learning and decision-making across the life span. However, the neurophysiological substrates of metacognitive processes remain poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that activity in the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline system may subserve post-response monitoring processes. In the present study we investigated whether pupil dilation, as an indirect and non-exclusive measure of noradrenergic activation, allows for characterizing metacognitive monitoring across different tasks and cognitive domains. Sixty young adults performed multiple experimental tasks during eye-tracking recordings. A battery of tasks testing mental rotation, visual perception and working memory was employed to test the association between pupil dilation and confidence judgments across multiple cognitive domains. In addition, an adapted version of the error awareness task was used to replicate the findings on the relationship between pupil size and error awareness. Pupil dilation measured during confidence judgments was found to be greater for high confidence judgments in mental rotation, visual perception and working memory tasks. In line with previous evidence, it was found that pupil size was larger after aware errors as compared to unaware errors. The study findings suggest that pupil dilation can be used as a robust marker of metacognitive processes and that noradrenergic function may contribute to metacognition in a domain-general fashion.

Keyword(s): Confidence ; Error awareness ; Metacognition ; Performance monitoring ; Pupil dilation

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Clinical Neurophysiology and Memory (AG Düzel)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Social and Behavioral Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Social Sciences Citation Index ; Web of Science Core Collection

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