Neural control of blinking

• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.02.023
• Publication Date: 2024-02-22T19:59:07Z
• Authors: Matteo Bologna; Giulia Paparella; Josep Valls-Solé; Mark Hallett; Alfredo Berardelli
• Keywords: Reciprocal inhibition

Blinking is a motor act characterized by the sequential closing and opening of eyelids, which achieved through reciprocal activation orbicularis oculi levator palpebrae superioris muscles. This stereotyped movement can be triggered reflexively, occur spontaneously, or voluntarily initiated. During each type blinking, neural control antagonistic interaction between muscles governed partially overlapping circuits distributed across cortical, subcortical, brainstem structures. paper provides comprehensive overview anatomical physiological foundations underlying blinking. We describe infra-nuclear apparatus, as well supra-nuclear mechanisms, i.e., how structures regulate coordinate different types