Photo/Illutration Racing driver Naoki Yamamoto, who has already left Docomo Team Dandelion Racing, assists in setting up cameras inside his helmet to detect how many times he blinks while driving at high speed. (Provided by NTT Communication Science Laboratories)

The outcome of Formula One and other championship motor racing events can be decided in the blink of an eye, literally, researchers say.

They found that racing drivers, tearing around the track at high speeds, “actively” blink at almost the same point, even when on different laps.

Blinking may be the brain’s way of processing information at high levels “beyond just keeping the eyes wet,” said Naoki Saijo, a lead researcher at NTT Communication Science Laboratories.

A single blink is said to block visual information for 0.2 second. Racing cars whizzing along at 200 kph can cover as much as 11 meters in that moment.

Thus, the timing and frequency of blinks can have a significant impact on the outcome of auto competitions as drivers vie for split-second advantages.

Ryota Nishizono, a research specialist at NTT Communication Science Laboratories, was joined by Saijo and NTT fellow Makio Kashino for the survey carried out in conjunction with Docomo Team Dandelion Racing, which competes in the Japanese Super Formula Championship.

Specialized cameras were mounted on the helmets of three of the team’s drivers between 2020 and 2021.

The researchers wanted to ascertain where the drivers blinked on three courses, one of which was the Fuji International Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture, during practices or test runs for the championship.

The measurements were done with the help of artificial intelligence.

It emerged that blinks were concentrated in certain locations along the tracks. The researchers said the trend was observed consistently throughout the laps.

In the case of Fuji International Speedway, for example, the study found that drivers did not blink in corners and other areas where they had to decelerate sharply or withstand strong horizontal gravitational forces. 

The researchers also found that drivers frequently blinked when they exited corners and gathered speed again on fast stretches.

The tendency among drivers to blink more often in specific zones but keep their eyes open in other areas became more evident as lap times got faster.

This could be explained by the fact that highly advanced driving techniques, coupled with a higher level of mental concentration, are indispensable when racing drivers decelerate dramatically or withstand strong horizontal gravitational forces.

“Drivers probably try not to blink in such places, so they do not lose visual information for even a moment,” Nishizono surmised.

The average number of times the three drivers blinked per minute varied significantly, from 10 or less to around 40.

Blinking two to three times per minute was reckoned to be sufficient to moisten the eyes, a natural function.

Blinking on fewer occasions meant drivers could “store” more visual data. Blinking less is apparently the recipe for a smoother ride, the researchers said.

Yet, the frequency of blinking turned out to be comparable to, or higher than that for ordinary mortals, who generally blink 10 to 30 times per minute.

Why competitive motorists blink aggressively after they finish slowing down quickly and navigating high-speed corners has yet to be ascertained.

Saijo suggested a possible reason: It may be a way to relax slightly after subjecting their body to incredible stress that required the highest level of concentration.

He noted drivers may not realize they resort to this cognitive process.

The findings were published in the scientific journal iScience at (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.106803).

They are expected to be reflected in measures to help ordinary motorists improve their driving techniques.

It emerged through the study that skilled drivers are apt to refrain from blinking in areas requiring deep concentration but blink repeatedly when they feel they can relax.

The researchers are planning to combine the data on ordinary motorists’ test runs with the measurements of their blinks.

The aim is to detect those who blink too often in areas that require higher levels of concentration as part of driving aptitude inspections.

Nishizono and his colleagues have already embarked on a research project to put the envisioned method to practical use.

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