Anna Rita Bentivoglio , of Blink Rate Patterns in Normal Subjects

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 f 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 blinkdmin, 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 and increased by 99.70% during conversation (p < I x As compared with reading, BR increased during conversation by 577.8% (p < 1 x lo-”). The distribution curves were highly reproducible in each task. The best curve fit was represented by