Why Do We Blink So Frequently?

New research indicates that the brain enters a momentary state of wakeful rest when we blink, perhaps allowing us to focus better afterward

We all blink. A lot. The average person blinks some 15-20 times per minute—so frequently that our eyes are closed for roughly 10% of our waking hours overall.

Blinking has a clear purpose—mostly to lubricate the eyeballs, and occasionally protect them from dust or other debris.

For someone reading, blinking often occurs after each sentence is finished, while for a person listening to a speech, it frequently comes when the speaker pauses between statements. A group of people all watching the same video tend to blink around the same time, too, when action briefly lags.


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