Synchronization of Spontaneous Eyeblink during Formula Car Driving

Formula car racing is a highly competitive sport. Previous studies have investigated the physiological characteristics and motor behaviors of drivers; however, little is known about how they modulate their cognitive states to improve their skills. Spontaneous eyeblink is a noteworthy factor because it reflects attentional states and is important for drivers to minimize the chance of losing critical visual information. In this study, we investigated whether the blink rate, blink synchronization among laps in each driver, and synchronization across drivers were related to their performance. Toward this end, we recorded the blinks and car behavior data of two professional drivers in quasi-racing environments. The results showed higher synchronization in higher-performance laps of each driver and across drivers but no significant change in blink rate. These results suggest that blink synchronization could reflect the changes in performance mode during formula car driving.