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Explores iris color changes linked to emotions in infants, suggesting early self-regulation mechanisms.
The Drescher Iris Reflex describes a newly identified psychophysiological phenomenon in which the iris exhibits rapid, visible color modulation unrelated to lighting or pupil size. The reflex correlates with emotional, cognitive and autonomic activation and may represent a protection mechanism involving the amygdala–insula–thalamus axis. Infants display the reflex more frequently, suggesting an early form of self-regulation. A self-induction exercise allows voluntary reproduction.
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Philipp Drescher (2026) studied this question.
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