Non-image-forming vision as measured through ipRGC-mediated pupil constriction is not modulated by covert visual attention

Abstract

Abstract In brightness, the pupil constricts, while in darkness, the pupil dilates; this is known as the pupillary light response (PLR). The PLR is driven by all photoreceptors: rods and cones, which contribute to image-forming vision, and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which mainly contribute to non-image-forming vision. Rods and cones cause immediate pupil constriction upon light exposure, whereas ipRGCs cause sustained constriction throughout light exposure. Recent studies have shown that covert attention modulated the initial PLR; however, it remains unclear whether the same holds for the sustained PLR. We tested this by leveraging ipRGCs’ responsiveness to blue light, causing the most prominent sustained constriction. While replicating previous studies by showing that pupils constricted more when either directly looking at, or covertly attending to, bright as compared to dim stimuli (with the same color), we also found that the pupil constricted more when directly looking at blue as compared to red stimuli (with the same luminosity). Crucially, however, in two high-powered studies (n = 60), we did not find any pupil-size difference when covertly attending to blue as compared to red stimuli. This suggests that ipRGC-mediated pupil constriction, and possibly non-image-forming vision more generally, is not modulated by covert attention.