Feasibility study of estimating visuospatial cognition and mental states using eye movement and brain activity during domain-specific tasks

Abstract

Visual cognitive abilities contribute to learning and occupational performance. However, individuals with high cognitive abilities do not necessarily exhibit adaptive psychological functioning. Building on our previous findings (Matsushima et al., 2025), this study examined the differences in arousal–performance relationships and psychosocial adaptation across four visual cognitive domains: visual spatial cognition, visual linguistic processing, visual working memory, and visual attentional control. Physiological indices (pupil diameter, near infrared spectroscopy activity, and autonomic measures) and psychological indicators (stress responses, emotion regulation, and resilience) were assessed. Participants in the high visual spatial cognition group exhibited heightened physiological arousal, including pupil dilation and increased right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation, accompanied by elevated stress responses and reduced cognitive reappraisal, indicating a profile characterized by high performance and a substantial psychological load. In contrast, the high visual attentional control group showed an adaptive profile characterized by parasympathetic dominance, effective emotion regulation, and greater resilience, demonstrating that cognitive strength does not uniformly predict psychological adaptation and that arousal patterns differ qualitatively across cognitive domains. Domain-specific assessments integrating physiological arousal and psychosocial adaptation may facilitate the early identification of individuals with high cognitive ability who are susceptible to psychological difficulties and provide a foundation for domain-specific screening and early preventive intervention.

Keywords: Visuospatial Cognition, Arousal Regulation, Pupil Diameter, NIRS, Psychosocial Adaptation

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007331