Skip to main content
Log in

Blinks as an index of cognitive activity during reading

  • Published:
Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Horizontal and vertical EOG recordings of eye movements were analyzed to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of blinks and the patterns of eye movements (saccades and fixation pauses) exhibited by six subjects during the reading of stories presented in two formats (on paper and on a VDT). The frequency and placement of blinks was not affected by the presentation condition. Blinks were determined to be non-randomly distributed during reading. Significantly more blinks (36%) occurred in conjunction with saccades than the proportion of time consumed by saccades (12%) would predict. Significantly more blinks (36%) occurred in the vicinity of line change saccades, which accounts for 15% of reading time, and with fixation pauses associated with regressions (42%), which accounts for 26% of reading time, than with fixation pauses during normal reading (22%), which accounts for 60% of reading time. The results of the study suggest that blink behavior during reading is under perceptual and cognitive control.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bartz, A.E. (1979). Information transmission during eye movements.Human Factors, 21(3); 331–336.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, L. (1986).Probe evoked potentials and lateralized cognitive activity: Effects of expectancy, processing demands, and time. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Washington University, Behavior Research Laboratory, St. Louis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, S., Taylor, K.W., Weinstein, E., & Riedel, J. (1985). The effect of stimulus significance on relatively sustained (tonic-like) and relatively transient (phasic-like) aspects of electrodermal, heart rate, and eyeblink response.Biological Psychology, 21; 183–228.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drew, G.C. (1951). Variations in reflex blink rate during visual-motor tasks.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3; 73–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fogarty, C. & Stern, J.A. (1989). Eye movements and blinks: Their relationship to higher cognitive processes.International Journal of Psychophysiology, 8; 35–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fukuda, K. & Matsunaga, K. (1983). Changes in blink rate during signal discrimination tasks.Japanese Psychological Research, 3; 73–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, R., Walrath, L.C., Stern, J.A., & Strock, B. (1985). Blink activity in a discrimination task as a function of stimulus modality and schedule of presentation.Psychophysiology, 22; 629–635.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, J.D., Alfaro, L., Barnes, V., Finn, R., Grischkowsky, N., & Minuto, A. (1987). Reading is slower from CRT displays than from paper: Attempts to isolate a single-variable explanation.Human Factors, 29; 269–299.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greupner, B. (1964). Undersuchungen zum lidschlaggeschehen bei tatigkeiten mit unterschiedlichen anforderungen an die visuaelle kontrolle und bei unterschiedlicher vorubung.Zeitschrift f. Psychologie mit Zeitschrift f. Angewandte Psychologie, 170; 171–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, A.A. (1945). The origin and purposes of blinking.British Journal of Ophthalmology, 29; 445–467.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, R.J. & Cusack, B.L. (1972).The measurement of eye behavior: Critical and selected reviews of voluntary eye movement and blinking (U.S. Army Technical Memorandum No. 18-72). Maryland: Aberdeen Proving Ground, Human Engineering Laboratory, Aberdeen Research and Development Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawley, T.F., Stern, J.A., & Chen, S.C. (1974). Computer analysis of eye movements during reading.Reading World, XIII; 307–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennard, D.W. & Glaser, G.H. (1964). An analysis of eyelid movements.The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 139(1); 31–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matin, E. (1974). Saccadic suppression: A review and analysis.Psychological Bulletin, 81; 899–917.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ponder, E. & Kennedy, W.P. (1927). On the act of blinking.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology, 18; 89–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern, J.A., Walrath, L.C., & Goldstein, R. (1984). The endogenous eyeblink.Psychophysiology, 21(1); 22–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Volkmann, F.C., Riggs, L.A., Ellicot, A.G. & Moore, R.K. (1981). Measurements of visual suppression during opening, closing and blinking of the eyes.Vision Research, 22; 991–996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volkmann, F.C., Riggs, L., & Moore, R.K. (1980). Eyeblinks and visual suppression.Science, 207,; 900–902.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Volkmann, F.C., Riggs, L.A., Moore, R.K., & White, K.D. (1978). Central and peripheral determinants of saccadic suppression. In. J.W. Senders, D.F. Fisher, & R.A. Monty (Eds.),Eye movements and the higher psychological functions (pp. 35–54). New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wibbenmeyer, R., Stern, J.A., & Chen, S.C. (1983). Elevation of visual threshold associated with eyeblink onset.International Journal of Neuroscience, 18; 279–286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Orchard, L.N., Stern, J.A. Blinks as an index of cognitive activity during reading. Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science 26, 108–116 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02691032

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02691032

Keywords

Navigation