Dilated Pupils Meaning: Attraction And Mood - Medical News Today

Maybe your like

Medical News TodaySubscribeDilated pupils meaning: Is it a sign of love?

Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST-S — Written by Aaron Kandola — Updated on September 24, 2023

Causes
Attraction
Summary

Many factors can influence pupil size. Typically, the pupils open up in low light situations to let in more light. However, some research suggests that attraction and mood might also cause pupil dilation.

The pupils are responsible for how much light enters the eyes. They will increase in size when the eyes need more light, and they will shrink to reduce the amount of light that enters.

The eyes are an important part of social interactions. For example, eye contact is central to most conversations.

Eye movements or changes can indicate various emotions, such as anxiety. Some research suggests that pupil size may even be an involuntary sign of attraction.

In this article, learn more about what might influence pupil size and dilation.

Causes of dilated pupils

a woman looking into her partners eyes lovingly and wondering what the mean of her Dilated pupils is — Dilated pupils may indicate attraction.

The pupils are small circular openings that control how much light enters the eyes.

The colored ring around the pupil is the iris. This contains muscle fibers that control pupil size. The pupils get smaller or larger depending on how much light is necessary to allow for good vision.

For example, the pupils increase with dim lighting to allow more light in and improve vision. In bright settings, the pupils become smaller to prevent too much light from coming in.

When the pupils become smaller, this is known as pupil constriction. When they get larger, this is known as pupil dilation.

Changes in pupil size are involuntary. The autonomic nervous system controls pupil size. This is the same system that controls other automatic actions, such as breathing.

However, other factors can also cause pupils to increase in size, or dilate. Some examples of these factors include:

medications and other drugs, such as alcohol
eye injuries that affect the iris muscles
neurological conditions, such as Adie’s pupil
brain injury, such as from a stroke

In some cases, the pupils will dilate permanently. For example, someone with congenital aniridia will have larger pupils all the time, due to a deficiency of the surrounding iris.

In other cases, the pupil might change throughout the day.

For example, emotions such as anxiety may also cause changes in pupil size. This can be a result of the fight-or-flight response, which is involuntary.

Does it show attraction?

Eye contact has long been central to human interactions. Changes in emotion might cause pupil dilation.

The autonomic nervous system triggers various involuntary responses during emotions, such as fear or arousal. Some research suggests that pupil dilation is one of these involuntary responses to arousal or attraction.

For example, one 2012 study recruited 325 men and women with varying sexual orientations. The researchers played erotic videos to the participants while monitoring their pupil size.

The study found that erotic videos led to pupil dilation in the participants. The team showed that bisexual men and heterosexual women had dilated pupils in response to erotic videos that included people of either sex.

Another study, this time in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, focused on associations between pupil dilation and sexual attraction. The researchers found that it was possible to determine sexual interest from the size and darkness of the pupils.

Pupil size also appears to respond to hormonal changes. One study recruited 14 women to view arousing pictures on a computer screen on different occasions. Half of the women were taking hormonal birth control pills.

Women not taking birth control pills had dilated pupils while viewing arousing pictures during ovulation. This did not occur in women taking birth control pills.

The study therefore suggests that hormonal changes could influence arousal and pupil dilation.

There is also some evidence to suggest that pupil dilation may indicate trust. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that pupil size changes play a role in trust formation.

It remains unclear why pupil dilation might be involved in attraction. It could be a result of hormonal changes.

However, many other factors can also affect pupil dilation. For example, research also suggests that paying attention to something can influence pupil size. It could be easy to mistake paying attention for attraction.

More research in this area will be necessary to establish whether pupil dilation is a sign of attraction or a result of other factors, such as hormones or involuntary bodily responses.

Summary

Pupil dilation occurs for a variety of reasons. Mostly, pupils change size depending on how much light is necessary for proper vision.

Other factors can also influence pupil dilation, such as medication or drug use. However, some research suggests that emotions can also influence pupil dilation, including sexual attraction. This might be due to hormonal changes.

Related emotions might also cause changes in pupil size, such as trust.

More research in this area will help determine whether or not pupil dilation is a sign of attraction. It might also help to uncover why the pupil might change size in response to attraction.

Eye Health / Blindness
Neurology / Neuroscience
Psychology / Psychiatry

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Laeng, B., & Falkenberg, L. (2007). Women's pupillary responses to sexually significant others during the hormonal cycle [Abstract]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17870074
Lick, D. J., et al. (2016). The pupils are the windows to sexuality: Pupil dilation as a visual cue to others’ sexual interest https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/comm/kjohnson/Lab/Publications_files/Lick,%20Cortland,%20%26%20Johnson%20%282016%29.pdf
Prochazkova, E., et al. (2018). Pupil mimicry promotes trust through the theory-of-mind network. https://www.pnas.org/content/115/31/E7265
Rieger, G., & Savin-Williams, R. C. (2012). The eyes have it: Sex and sexual orientation differences in pupil dilation patterns.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0040256
Spector, H. (1990). Chapter 58: The pupils. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations, 3rd Edition. Boston, MA: Butterworths. http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK381/
Urai, A. E., et al. (2017). Pupil-linked arousal is driven by decision uncertainty and alters serial choice bias.https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms14637

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST-S — Written by Aaron Kandola — Updated on September 24, 2023

Latest news

Can treating rheumatoid arthritis before it sets in help delay its onset?
Night owls may have a higher cardiovascular risk: Here's why
Low vitamin D may increase respiratory infection risk by as much as 33%
2 or more alcoholic drinks a day linked to 91% higher colorectal cancer risk
Predisposition to blood sugar spikes linked to 69% higher Alzheimer's risk

Related Coverage

What causes pupils of different sizes?Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.D.
The medical term for pupils of different sizes is anisocoria. Find out about the possible causes of anisocoria here, as well as when to seek emergency…
READ MORE
What does it mean to be asexual?
Asexuality is a sexual orientation that involves a lack of sexual attraction. This article looks at what it means to be on the asexual spectrum.
READ MORE
Risk factors for geographic atrophy
Risk factors for geographic atrophy, include age, genetics, health conditions, and lifestyle influences. Learn more.
READ MORE
What treatments are available for geographic atrophy?Medically reviewed by Leela Raju, MD
Several options are available to help manage geographic atrophy and its effects on vision. Learn about current treatments, vision support, and…
READ MORE
Enspryng (satralizumab-mwge) and cost
Enspryng is a prescription drug used to treat neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Learn how to lower long-term costs and more.
READ MORE

Tag » Do Your Pupils Expand When You Like Someone

Dilated Pupils Meaning: Attraction And Mood - Medical News Today

Health Conditions

Health Products

News

Original Series

Podcasts

General Health

Health Tools

Quizzes

About Medical News Today

Find Community

Follow Us

Causes of dilated pupils

Does it show attraction?

Summary

How we reviewed this article:

Latest news

Related Coverage

Are Dilated Pupils Always A Sign Of Love? Plus 7 Other Arousal Signs

Why Do Your Eyes Dilate When You're Attracted To Someone? - CEENTA

How TikTok's Pupil Test Works, And What It Tells Us About Love ... - WHYY

Is It True That Your Eyes Dilate When You're In Love? - Quora

Doe-Eyed: Why Do Pupils Dilate When You Look At Someone You ...

Is It Love? Nine Reasons Why Your Pupils May Dilate | .uk

Do Our Eyes Dilate When You're Attracted To Someone? - Ultralase

What It Means If Your Pupils Dilate When You Look At Someone

Eye-Opener: Why Do Pupils Dilate In Response To Emotional States?

Do Pupils Dilate When You Like Someone?

Do Your Eyes Dilate When You Are Attracted To Someone?

Why Your Pupils Dilate Around Someone You Love - The List

Why Dilated Pupils Are A Good Sign Of Attraction (And Maybe Love)

Do Pupils Dilate When Thinking Of Someone You Love? - YouTube

Contact