Pupil–galvanic Skin Response Synchrony during Family-centered Visual Reminiscence in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Proof-of-concept Study
Cheng-Ren Chen, Jung-Ying Hou, Hui-Ching WengAbstract
Introduction:
Subtle changes in attention and emotion characterize early cognitive decline. In Asian elders, where family is central, culturally tailored reminiscence therapy (RT)-inspired visual stimulation may amplify autobiographical engagement. We aimed to determine whether visual–autonomic coupling, assessed through eye-tracking and galvanic skin response (GSR), serves as a sensitive physiological indicator of cognitive vulnerability during family-centered, RT-inspired visual stimulation.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study enrolled 37 older adults (aged 54–92) from dementia service centers in Taiwan, stratified by clinical dementia rating (CDR) score (0, 0.5, 1). Participants viewed self-selected community and family-centered personal photos (early, ≥30 years; recent, <5 years), whereas eye-tracking and GSR were simultaneously recorded to assess visual–autonomic synchrony.
Results:
The normal cognition group (CDR = 0) showed significantly larger pupil diameters, especially for recent personal photos (3.56 ± 0.87 mm), compared to CDR = 0.5 (2.64 ± 0.52 mm) and CDR = 1 (2.97 ± 0.61 mm;
Conclusion:
These findings indicate that pupil–GSR coupling could serve as an exploratory indicator of early cognitive vulnerability. The study supports the potential of personalized, RT-inspired visual stimulation for guiding interventions in individuals at risk of dementia.