Muscular tension and the human blink rate.

Abstract

The blink rate of 66 college students was recorded for 1 minute during 3 experimental periods; while subjects (Ss) were relaxed, and while Ss squeezed 2 hand dynamometers simultaneously with 1/8 maximum grip and then with 3/8 maximum grip. These recordings were taken first while Ss were unaware (Part 1) and then while they were aware (Part 2) that their eye-blinks were being recorded. In Part 2, Ss attempted to inhibit their eye blinks. During Parts 1 and 2 the Ss blinked significantly more often during both tension conditions than during the relaxed condition. In Part 1 the rate of blinking was not significantly different for the 2 tension conditions, but during Part 2 the blink-rate was significantly greater for the greater condition of induced tension. The correlation between blink-rate scores for Parts 1 and 2 was 0.5.