It’s something we do throughout the day without even thinking about it.
But have you ever considered how your blinking pattern compares to your peers?
A new test by Vision Direct reveals exactly how many times you blink every minute – and how this stacks up against the rest of the nation.
Aside from being a bit of fun, experts say the test can actually reveal your innermost thoughts and feelings.
‘You may think your eye movements are insignificant but in just a blink of an eye, you can reveal your innermost thoughts and feelings – like if you fancy the pants off your date or if you’re telling a fib about eating your flatmate’s leftovers last night,’ Vision Direct said.
It’s something we do throughout the day without even thinking about it. But have you ever considered how your blinking pattern compares to your peers?
A new test by Vision Direct reveals exactly how many times you blink every minute – and how this stacks up against the rest of the nation
To play the game, visit this link and click the red button that reads ‘Take me to the test.’
Tap ‘Start’ and a one-minute countdown will begin.
Simply tap or click the button every time you blink throughout the countdown, and the game will tot up your total.
At the end of the minute, you’ll be told how many times you blinked, and where you sit on the scale from ‘Eyes Wide Open’ to ‘Super Speedy Blinker’.
If you’re more towards the ‘Eyes Wide Open’ end of the scale, research suggests that you might be a good liar.
Simply tap or click the button every time you blink throughout the countdown, and the game will tot up your total
At the end of the minute, you’ll be told how many times you blinked, and where you sit on the scale from ‘Eyes Wide Open’ to ‘Super Speedy Blinker’
Traci Brown, a Body Language Expert who worked with Vision Direct on the test, explained: ‘To find out if someone is lying, you’ll want to pay attention to how the person is blinking when they have nothing to lie about.
‘Then when deception is at play, you may notice it quickly changes.
‘Typically, if their blinking changes it will get less rapid during the lie and then increase dramatically right after the lie is told.
‘However, it is important to note that blinking is just a piece of the puzzle.
‘It’s vital to pay attention to other factors in their body language and tone to aid in the detection of deception.’
Meanwhile, if you’re more of a Super Speedy Blinker, you might be in love.
Previous research has shown that blink rate is a significant indicator of mental arousal.
‘If your date is fluttering their eyes at you, it could indicate that they’re pretty nervous but excited to be on the date with you,’ Vision Direct explained.
‘This is especially true if coupled with other classic nervous behaviour like sweating, fidgeting, or tapping.’
Based on the findings, you might be tempted to adjust your blinking rate to hide when you’re lying or to entice your crush.
However, Ms Brown warns that manipulating your natural blinking pattern can actually make you seem untrustworthy.
‘People that try to manipulate their body language to appear a certain way almost always fail,’ she said.
‘This is because we are largely unaware of our blinking in everyday situations and efforts to change that appears off which, in the end, can backfire as it causes the manipulator to appear incongruent in their communication.’
