A study of endogenous eyeblinks in primates including human from the standpoint of comparative cognitive scinence.

2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 16530474
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental psychology
• Research Institution: Tohoku Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: TADA Hideoki Tohoku Gakuin University, Department of Psychology, Professor (90045675)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OMORI Yasuko Jin'ai University, Department of Psychology, Associate Professor (90340033) ; OHIRA Hideki Nagoya University, Department of Psychology, Associate Professor (90221837) ; TOMONAGA Masaki Kyoto University, Institute of Primate Research, Associate Professor (70237139) ; 廣川 空美 梅花女子大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (50324299)
• Project Period (FY): 2004 – 2006
• Keywords: eyeblink rates / blink duration / sole blink rate / activity rhythm / body size / phylogeny / habitat types

Research Abstract

The eyeblink behaviors of 71 species of primates were recorded and analyzed in terms of three types of blink attributes ; 1)eyeblink rate, 2) blink duration and 3) sole blink percent (the blinks not associated with head and body movements), comparing with the possible contributing factors ; 1) phylogenetic scale of common term. 2) of family level, 3) head body length, 4) body mass, 5) activity rhythm, and 6) habitat types. The blink frequency increased linearly from nocturnal to diurnal, arboreal to terrestrial and especially along phylogenetic scales such as common term levels and family type levels. Sole blink percents also tend to increase in accordance with phylogenetic process but blink durations were affected only by body size. These findings might suggest that the jumboized or large-sized species have little enemies or predators and decrease the necessity of vigilance, resulting in allowing extra blinks, which leads to frequent, shorter and sole blinks, compared with the smaller and feeble species.

Research Products

• [Presentation] Phylogenetic differences of endogenous eyeblinks in primates. (2006)
  • Author(s): Tada,H., Omori,Y., Hirokawa,K., Ohira,H., Tomonaga,M.
  • Organizer: 13^<th> World Congress of Psychophysiology
  • Place of Presentation: Istanbull, Turkey
  • Year and Date: 2006-08-31
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Presentation] Phylogentic differences of endogenous eyeblinks in primates (2006)
  • Author(s): Tada, H., Omori, Y., Hirokawa, K., Ohira, H., Tomonaga, M.
  • Organizer: The 13^<th> World Congress of Psychophysiology
  • Place of Presentation: at Istanbull, Turkey
  • Year and Date: 2006-08-31
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より