6 ms·
I didn't think this was special? I've done this in the mirrior? Not fast or anything, but it is "on demand".
by fallat 5y ago
I didn't think this was special? I've done this in the mirrior? Not fast or anything, but it is "on demand".
- mkotowski 5y ago> It was previously known that some people can change their pupil size at will, but by using indirect methods. > For example, researchers already knew that just thinking about the sun could constrict the pupils and that thinking of a dark room or mentally calculating something could dilate them, […] Apparently, it is about changing the pupil’s size without any physical or mental stimulus.
- AQuantized 5y agoHow would you be able to tell if they were using 'mental stimulus' or not?
- weeblewobble 5y agoIt's in the abstract of the paper. They used fMRI
- evandrofisico 5y agoI've done this since my childhood and honestly thought that everybody was able to do that.
- mixologic 5y agoYeah, my wife can do this too, always been one of her go-to "human party tricks"
- aliswe 5y agoIndeed, i can do this too. I stopped after they diverged into different sizes (one being enlarged and one being shrunk), as I became a bit worried it was perhaps dangerous. They were restored within a few minutes, though.
- superflit 5y agoSame as me. I can do that. Usually I ask a friend to count up to 3 and then on 3 I dilate the pupils immediately.
- smcleod 5y agoCame here to say this as well, I can change mine without moving when looking in a mirror - to me it "feels" like I'm focusing my eyes on something that isn't there.
- tomthe 5y agoSame here. I used this to impress my friends in primary school. I couldn't find another use for it though.
- tandem5000 5y agoI can also blur my eyes deliberately and I sometimes use it to get a better idea of the gestalt aesthetics during drawing or graphics design work.
- isoprophlex 5y agoIf you're interested, the article mentions that they're looking for more people with the ability. Theres some contact email address shown near the end.
- YeGoblynQueenne 5y agoThat's just a trick to find the aliens hiding in the population.
- Cthulhu_ 5y agoWouldn't blinking with your third eyelids give it away though?
- Sohcahtoa82 5y agoAppropriate username. On topic, though, I tried it, and changing what I'm focused on doesn't change my pupil size. But maybe I wasn't going far enough? I just looked in a mirror, focused on a spec of dust on the mirror, then changed focus to the image of something behind me, and my pupils didn't change at all.
- sethammons 5y agoInstead of focusing like that, think about crossing your eyes but keep them in place. It is like changing the depth of focus, but different.
- dingocat 5y agoDitto, I can do it as well. I can best describe it as looking at an object and shifting it in/out of focus.
- ygjb 5y agoSame. I always lumped it in with "can't curl my tongue" and "cilantro tastes like soap" types of genetic differences...
- tzs 5y agoI've got a weird "can't do what apparently most people can do" one and have wondered if it is genetic. I can't walk while urinating. If I've started urinating and realize that I should be standing a little bit farther forward or back or to the side I have to stop, move, and restart. I asked once on some other forum if others have the same restriction and everyone claimed they can easily walk while urinating.
- smunky 5y agotry peeing your pants - just a little and where there won't be serious repercussions. it kind of illuminates the line between the conditioned and the physical - y'know