Le clignement palpébral : Indice électrophysiologique du comportement

Abstract

Eye movements of 15 subjects were recorded through EEG derivation (nasion to first quarter of mid-line) during 17 different precisely controlled psychophysiological situations of 2'30 each. These situation were supposed to trigger the various sensory modalities--visual, auditory, gustato--olfactory, and subjects having to be either passive or active. The relationship between the Number of Eye Blinks per minute (NEB) and each psychophysiological situation were studied. An average oculographic profile was obtained across situations.--The average value of NEP was approximately 25/mn.--In order to control serial effects the situation order was reversed for 7 of the 15 subjects: no serial effect was noticed.--As regards the influence of the various sensory modalities, it appeared that blinking rate was minimal during visual situations, and maximal during tactile, olfactory and taste situations.--The changes in blinking rate were discussed in terms of visual and oculor factors, variations in selective attention or cognitive process and also in terms of emotional factors as they appear in some stressing situations in which the task demand was particularly important.