The Blink Rate calculator estimates the number of times a person blinks over a period of time based on the activity level, gender, and if a woman, whether she is taking oral contraceptives.

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

• (S) Gender
• (A) Activity of Person
• (OC) Whether on Oral Contraception
• (t) Time Period

Number of Blinks (nB): The calculator returns the approximate number of blinks over the period of time.

The Math / Science

The Blink Rate equation computes an estimated number of blinks an average adult person will blink in a specified period of time, given involvement in one of three activities.

The blink rate (BR) of a human at rest and without excitement is described in numerous sources.  In one reference it is stated blinks occur between 2 and 10 seconds apart.  In another between 1/2 to 6 seconds.  For averages quoted in a clinical study of 150 volunteers in Rome, Italy, the rates were given in terms of the following activities:  rest, reading, and conversation. 

We have chosen for our activity-independent average a 3 second blink rate.

Notes

A study from the Istituto di Neurologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy measured the normal blink rate (BR) during behavioral tasks from a cross section of volunteers (70 males and 80 females; ages ranged 5-87 years).

During three activities the Blink Rates were characterized:  resting, reading, and talking freely.

• Mean BR at rest was 17 blinks/min,
• Mean BR during conversation increased to 26 blinks/min
• Mean BR was 4.5 blinks/min while reading.

The best curve fit for the data for the three activitys' BRs was a log-normal distribution, with the upper tail of each curve having a normal distribution.

Eye color and eyeglass wearing did not affect BR.

Sex did affect BR with women having higher BR than men just while reading.

Age did not affect BR.

This study showed that BR is more influenced by cognitive processes than by age, eye color, or local factors.

In this calculation we made approximation, since the BR is relatively imprecise; we used exactly four weeks to equal a month, so equivalent of 28 days.  The year used is exactly 365 days.  We use the 2010 average life expectancy for the world of 67.2 years

Excitement seems to increase blink rate and especially excitement associated with "fabricating the truth". As an example, it was noted that Bill Clinton's blink rate was recorded rising to 117 when he was asked about increases in teen drug use.

Infants have a substantially lower blink rate than adults.