Analysis of blink rate patterns in normal subjects

Abstract

The present study measured the normal blink rate (BR) variations in relation to behavioral tasks in 150 healthy volunteers (70 males and 80 females; aged 35.9 +/- 17.9 years, range 5-87 years). The subjects were videotaped in a standard setting while performing three different tasks: resting quietly, reading a short passage, talking freely. The mean BR was computed during each task; the data were compared by means of analysis of variance and Student's t tests. Mean BR at rest was 17 blinks/min, during conversation it increased to 26, and it was as low as 4.5 while reading. As compared with rest, BR decreased by -55.08% while reading (p < 1 x 10(-15)) and increased by 99.70% during conversation (p < 1 x 10(-9)). As compared with reading, BR increased during conversation by 577.8% (p < 1 x 10(-17). The distribution curves were highly reproducible in each task. The best curve fit was represented by a log-normal distribution, with the upper tail of each curve having a normal distribution. Eye color and eyeglass wearing did not influence BR. Women had higher BR than men just while reading. No age-related differences were found. The most common BR pattern was conversation > rest > reading, which occurred in 101 subjects (67.3%); 34 subjects (22.7%) had the pattern rest > conversation > reading; 12 (8.0%) had the pattern conversation > reading > rest. This study identified three normal behavioral BR patterns and showed that BR is more influenced by cognitive processes than by age, eye color, or local factors. The present findings provide a normal reference for the analysis of BR in movement disorders such as dystonia or tics.

Eye irritation and environmental factors in the office environment-hypotheses, causes and a physiological model

“…Typical blink frequencies at rest range from about 12 to 20 blinks/minute (15,41), lowest at a discrete observation (42). In a study of 150 healthy subjects, the most common order of decreasing blink frequency was found to be conversation > rest > reading (43). Blink frequency during reading also depends on the position of the gaze, being lowest during a low gaze (44).…”

“…However, blink frequency is also influenced by psychological and mental states of mind. For example, mental stress, cognitive awareness and demands, and the tasks performed can play a role (15,43,44). In addition, increased attention generally decreases blink frequency, while anxiety or high arousal increases it (60), in addition to conversation (43).…”

GSR and Blink Features for Cognitive Load Classification

“…Some previous works have studied blink variations in regard to modality (visual versus acoustic) [13] or location (central versus peripheral) [6] of presenting stimuli. Another research has measured the blink rate in resting, reading and talking conditions [1]. A few studies have examined blink features in two cognitive load levels and found them related with mental load level [5,8].…”

Without Blinking an Eye: Proactive Motor Control Enhancement

“…On average, people blink 15-17 times a minute (Bentivoglio etal.1997;Karsonetal.1990)withtheratechangingaccordingto differentmentalstatessuchasreading,talking,daydreaming,and resting (Bentivoglio et al 1997;Doughty 2001). When asked, subjects can inhibit their EB to some extent for a limited amount of time (Mazzone et al, 2010;Moraitis and Ghosh 2014;SchmeichelandZell2007).TheabilitytoinhibitEBcanbemoderatelypredictedbyaself-controlreport,i.e.,peoplewhoreported themselveshighonself-controlinhibitedEBbetterthatthosewho reported themselves low on the trait scale (Schmeichel and Zell 2007).…”