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Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until April 20, 2026

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Eyes on the Prize: Using Pupillometry to Measure Cognitive Effort in Young Adults

Everett, Jillian Mae
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1681979863430909

Abstract Details

2023, Master of Arts, Miami University, Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Up to 20% of individuals have literacy disorders, including dyslexia (Spencer et al., 2014). Although much is known about typical literacy, less is known about the specific cognitive- linguistic deficits noted in individuals with disorders. Pupillometry is the measure of pupil dilation during behavioral tasks and is an established measure of cognitive effort for adults and children. Utilizing pupillometry may reveal differences previously unknown through standardized reading measures and observation alone. The purpose of this study was to establish baseline pupillary responses as a physiological measure of cognitive effort for neurotypical young adults during single-word literacy tasks using variables of word familiarity, length, and phonological complexity. A Tobii Dynavox© Pro Spectrum eye tracker measured pupillary responses of 19 participants while they read single real and pseudowords aloud. Longer, unfamiliar words elicited greater pupillary responses than shorter, unfamiliar words. A significant positive correlation was found between overall phonological complexity and dilation. This study revealed that pupil dilation was a valid indicator of cognitive effort for single-word reading tasks among neurotypical young adults. Clinical applications and future directions will be discussed.
Arnold Olszewski (Advisor)
30 p.
Literacy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Everett, J. M. (2023). Eyes on the Prize: Using Pupillometry to Measure Cognitive Effort in Young Adults [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1681979863430909

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Everett, Jillian. Eyes on the Prize: Using Pupillometry to Measure Cognitive Effort in Young Adults. 2023. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1681979863430909.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Everett, Jillian. "Eyes on the Prize: Using Pupillometry to Measure Cognitive Effort in Young Adults." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1681979863430909

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.