Fluctuations in arousal reflect latent state transitions that facilitate behavioral optimization: EEG and eye tracking dataset

People are often faced with surprising events that defy expectations. Such
events elicit transient activity in the locus coeruleus/norepinephrine
system and elevation of peripheral arousal markers, including pupil
dilation and the EEG P300. Still, the function of these signals remains
unclear. We propose that they reflect latent state transitions that
dynamically control the mental context governing learning and perception.
We tested and confirmed five preregistered predictions of this theory
using EEG and pupil measurements collected from people performing a color
prediction and reproduction task. The dataset uploaded here includes EEG
and pupillometric data collected while participants performed this task.