Blink and you'll miss it!!! Why? because...

Blink and you'll miss it!!! Why? because...

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• May 31, 2008 at 11:42 PM
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Scientists have recently discovered that people temporarily shut off their brain when they blink, yes when they blink!

Even when there is light entering the eyes the brain's visual cortex closes down and would explain why most people don't realise or notice their own blinking according to a team at the University College London. The researchers had the volunteers wear googles and lie down inside a brain scanner. Following this the scientists lit up the participants eye balls using fibre optic cables placed inside their mouths.

What did this demonstrate? Well, this meant that the light falling on the retina stayed constant even when the volunteers blinked which gave the research team the opportunity to measure the brain activity without having to depend on the amount of light entering the eyes.

Study spokeswoman Davina Bristow said: 'Suppressing visual awareness during blinks may be a mechanism for preventing the brain becoming aware of the world going dark.' So now you have it ! when you automatically blink your eyes part of your brain shuts down which explains why people who have fast blinking don't always notice it even when it is so obious to onlookers watching.

 

Wake UP HAPPY

 

David Power