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Blink Rate (blink + rate)
Selected AbstractsBlink rate in boys with fragile X syndrome: preliminary evidence for altered dopamine functionJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2005J. E. Roberts Abstract Background Dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in motor and cognitive functioning, can be non-invasively measured via observation of spontaneous blink rates. Blink rates have been studied in a number of clinical conditions including schizophrenia, autism, Parkinsons, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder with results implicating either hyper or hypo dopaminergic states. Methods This study examined spontaneous blink rate in boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Blink rates of boys (4,8 years old) with FXS (n = 6) were compared with those of age-matched typically developing boys (n = 6) during active and passive tasks. Blink rates (blinks per minute) for each task were compared between the two groups. Then, the relation between blink measures and core FXS-related features [problem behaviours, arousal, fmr 1 protein (FMRP)] were examined within the group of boys with FXS. Results Blink rate in boys with FXS was significantly higher than typically developing boys during passive tasks. Within the FXS group, there were significant correlations between blink rate and problem behaviours and physiological arousal (i.e. heart activity) but not with FMRP. Conclusions Observed differences in spontaneous blink rate between boys with and without FXS and the relation between blink rate and physiological and behavioural measures in boys with FXS suggests that further work examining dopamine dysfunction as, a factor in the pathophysiology of FXS may be warranted. [source] Blink rate variability in patients with panic disorder: New trial using audiovisual stimulationPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 5 2002MAKI KOJIMA Abstract Several lines of evidence have implicated central dopaminergic pathways in the modulation of spontaneous blink rate (BR). Furthermore, previous studies have indicated a relationship between spontaneous BR and anxiety and/or depression. However, to our knowledge, there is no report on the examination of BR in a group of patients with panic disorder (PD). During the conditions of rest and with audiovisual stimulation, exposed to a video of imaginary experiences, such as driving a motor vehicle or diving into the sea, BR was examined in 11 male patients with PD and compared with the BR of 16 age-matched normal controls. The BR was significantly higher in PD patients relative to normal controls under both conditions. In particular, the PD group had a higher BR score during the sea scene as relaxation compared with the normal controls. In conclusion, although the sample size was small the present preliminary study, these findings suggest that BR may have potential for application in the assessment of anxiety state, which is consistent with previous studies. [source] Dynamic wavefront aberrations and visual acuity in normal and dry eyesCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPTOMETRY, Issue 3 2009Yan Wang MD Purpose:, The aim was to study the dynamic properties of wavefront aberrations and visual acuity in normal and dry eyes. Methods:, Thirty dry-eye patients and 27 normal subjects participated in this study. Multi-file mode of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor was used to measure dynamic wavefront aberrations for a period of 45 seconds. Dynamic measurements of visual acuity (VA) were made for 150 seconds using a multi-functional VA tester. Standard deviation of the measurements (RMS or VA) over the testing period was used to estimate instability of the dynamic wavefront aberration and VA. Results:, For most subjects, both wavefront aberration and VA changed over time and the instability varied substantially among individuals. Blink-dependent fluctuation in wavefront aberration or VA was observed for some dry-eye subjects. On average, the dry-eye group had greater instability than the normal group in either the higher order wavefront aberrations (t = 2.09, p = 0.03, for OD; t = 3.76, p = 0.001, for OS) or the VA (t = 2.09, p = 0.02, for OD; t = 204, p = 0.03, for OS). Instability of VA in the dry-eye group was significantly correlated with blink rate (r = 0.28, p = 0.02). Conclusion:, Dynamic changes in wavefront aberrations and VA are highly individual dependent, while the dry eye tends to be less stable than the normal eye. The results suggest that tear-film fluctuation might play a role in determining dynamic wavefront aberration and VA, however, contributions from other factors should not be overlooked. For dry eye, dynamic change in VA depends on blink rate. [source] Blink rate in boys with fragile X syndrome: preliminary evidence for altered dopamine functionJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2005J. E. Roberts Abstract Background Dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in motor and cognitive functioning, can be non-invasively measured via observation of spontaneous blink rates. Blink rates have been studied in a number of clinical conditions including schizophrenia, autism, Parkinsons, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder with results implicating either hyper or hypo dopaminergic states. Methods This study examined spontaneous blink rate in boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Blink rates of boys (4,8 years old) with FXS (n = 6) were compared with those of age-matched typically developing boys (n = 6) during active and passive tasks. Blink rates (blinks per minute) for each task were compared between the two groups. Then, the relation between blink measures and core FXS-related features [problem behaviours, arousal, fmr 1 protein (FMRP)] were examined within the group of boys with FXS. Results Blink rate in boys with FXS was significantly higher than typically developing boys during passive tasks. Within the FXS group, there were significant correlations between blink rate and problem behaviours and physiological arousal (i.e. heart activity) but not with FMRP. Conclusions Observed differences in spontaneous blink rate between boys with and without FXS and the relation between blink rate and physiological and behavioural measures in boys with FXS suggests that further work examining dopamine dysfunction as, a factor in the pathophysiology of FXS may be warranted. [source] | ||||||||||