Blink Rate Abnormalities in Autistic and Mentally Retarded Children: Relationship to Dopaminergic Activity

Abstract

Blink rate, a putative noninvasive measure of central dopaminergic activity, was observed in developmentally disabled children. Autistic subjects had elevated blink rates when compared with normal subjects. These results are consistent with research that suggests that autism is associated with brain dopaminergic hyperactivity. The findings of diminished blink rate in mentally retarded children may not be related to dopaminergic activity and raise questions about what alternative mechanisms might be responsible. © 1987, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. All rights reserved.