December 22, 2006

Blink Rate and Dopamine Levels

High dopamine levels are believed to be one of the key factors that play a role in the development of schizophrenia. In the following story Graduate student (pursuing a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience) Chris Chatham describes the interesting phenomenon that eye blink rates seem to be tied to the level of dopamine in a person's brain, and that

"Studies with human children show elevated eye-blink rate among unmedicated children with ADHD, schizophrenia, epilepsy, as well as those with autism."

We know of no practical value of this information - but it is interesting.

Read the article: Eyes, Window to the Soul - and to Dopamine Levels?

Blog: Developing Intelligence

Thanks to Tim^ for the link to this delightfully written article.


Comments

I'm a schizophrenia patient myself..I am a 18yrs old Singaporean..having Schizo since secondary 4.

I remembered the moment i was in secondary 2, i often blink my eyes to avoid 'interesting' stuff.i not really sure why but i just like the feeling of been 'unnoticed' in the way whenever i feel people are observing me in a "coward" way....
Now i don't....Could be i don't have the 'hallucination/delusion' of people looking at me and also don't care whether is it real or not....as long I'm not hurt physically......

I learn to counter those hallucination/delusion using my knowledge/common sense/experiences.Still those Voices in me always 'seems' have a "strongest character" compare to real life people .

Currently now i hoping to know more about the sources of the voices,etc

Posted by: Ng Shi Lin at December 25, 2006 02:01 AM

12/26/06
You know from 1981 to 1983 I was prsecribed glaucoma medication. I hope the glaucoma drug did not peclude, or increase the possiblity of me developing schizophrenia. You would be surprised a few drops of Timoptic in the eye can cause nervous tension. To make the eye pressure situtation worse I was working in front of dozens of TV monitors at Television Station. Just recently the Japanese how found a 5 -7% increase in glaucoma with computer workers. I don't think this applies to the new flat screen TV's.

Posted by: Ken at December 26, 2006 01:22 PM

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