Gaussian and Poisson Blink Statistics: A Preliminary Study

Gaussian and Poisson statistics are applied to a simple counting experiment measuring fluctuations of the total number of blinks during a 30-s interval. Using nine subjects, it is found that the blink rate can vary by a factor of 5 from one individual to the next, with an average interblink delay time of 2.28 ±1.35 s. Agreement between theory and experiment is significant at the 0.97 level. Potential applications are discussed.