Blink Rate Variability during resting and reading sessions

TL;DR

This study analyzes blink rate variability during resting and reading sessions, revealing that reading reduces blink frequency and increases inter-blink intervals, with variability characteristics indicating a shift towards white noise during reading.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the statistical and complexity characteristics of blink rate variability during cognitive tasks, linking blink patterns to mental workload.

Findings

Blink rate decreases during reading compared to resting.

Inter-blink intervals increase during reading and memorization.

Blink rate variability shows a shift towards white noise during reading.

Abstract

It has been shown that blinks occur not only to moisturize eyes and as a defensive response to the environment, but are also caused by mental processes. In this paper, we investigate statistical characteristics of blinks and blink rate variability of 11 subjects. The subjects are presented with a reading/memorization session preceded and followed by a resting session. EEG signals were recorded during these sessions. The signals from the two front electrodes were then analyzed, and times of the blinks were detected. We discovered that compared to the resting sessions, reading session is characterized by a lower number of blinks. However, there was no significant difference in standard deviation in the blink rate variability. We also noticed that in terms of complexity measures, the blink rate variability is located somewhere in between white and pink noises, being closer to the white noise during reading. We also found that the average of inter-blink intervals increases during reading/memorization, thus longer inter-blink intervals could be associated with a mental workload.