Blinking and Reading

[nagano]

I've noticed that many professionals blink when they read. Does anyone know the details of the technique being used?

[Tofu]

Blinking keeps the eyes moist so they don't dry out.

[nagano]

I mean like 2-3 times a second, it's very clear that the blinking pattern has something to do with their reading. I think it is significant that only professionals and strong amateurs usually do this. I don't see many Western amateurs doing it, either.

[Kirby]

Interesting question. I've noticed this, too, now that you mention it.

I'm interested to know the reason, too, though I suspect it is a result of some type of thinking, rather than a key to success in itself.

[jts]

Behold, I offer you the last go players! What is a hoshi, they ask, and blink. Truly they are but a bridge between chess players and something greater.

Okay, to be honest I have never noticed an unusual amount of blinking. Can you link to a couple videos?

There are plenty of reasons people blink when they are trying to focus their eyes... Pay attention the next time you wake up. Moistens the eyes, gets off rheum, makes visual artifacts disappear, aligns the muscles that hold up the eyes.

[sefo]

I haven't heard about a blinking technique for "reading".
However that's a technique known to help your brain take snapshots.

People with good "visual memory" can look at something, blink quickly a few times and keep the eyes closed for a few seconds. The last image will be printed in memory for some time.

[Joaz Banbeck]

Somebody has been reading too much Neitzsche...

Seriously, if this is true, it could be a fascinating insight into how the brain works when playing go. Does anyone have links to any concrete data?

[sefo]

Practically, I have a good visual memory and focusing on a position for some time and then strongly blinking (closing my eyes suddenly 1 time) will help me print the image faster in memory. I read about this memorizing technique but I can't remember where.

The idea of blinking repeatedly reminds me of Subliminal Stimuli where a subject is presented with flashing images at a very fast rate.

The above is about memory, there has been some research done on the subject.

However, I have read some research about voluntarily blinking during a thinking process and it appears that blinking has a negative impact on attention. (i.e not good for reading go tactics)

http://www.amsciepub.com/doi/abs/10.246 ... 5.41.2.403

This article demonstrates that when you're thinking or focusing on something, the blink rate is reduced to a minimum.

http://www.journalofvision.org/content/4/8/401.abstract

This one is a study showing that eye-blinks inhibit cognitive processing.

[Mef]

Practically, I have a good visual memory and focusing on a position for some time and then strongly blinking (closing my eyes suddenly 1 time) will help me print the image faster in memory. I read about this memorizing technique but I can't remember where.

The idea of blinking repeatedly reminds me of Subliminal Stimuli where a subject is presented with flashing images at a very fast rate.

The above is about memory, there has been some research done on the subject.

However, I have read some research about voluntarily blinking during a thinking process and it appears that blinking has a negative impact on attention. (i.e not good for reading go tactics)

http://www.amsciepub.com/doi/abs/10.246 ... 5.41.2.403

This article demonstrates that when you're thinking or focusing on something, the blink rate is reduced to a minimum.

http://www.journalofvision.org/content/4/8/401.abstract

This one is a study showing that eye-blinks inhibit cognitive processing.

Related to this, it might be that when the professionals are thinking about the position they aren't looking at it. If the position is imprinted into your memory, your eyes might just be on autopilot blinking away, while a weaker player who doesn't have as strong of a recall of the position spends more time and energy physically looking at the position (less blinking).

[ez4u]

I am sure that I am not the only one still waiting to find out who are these many pro heavy blinkers! Personally I can't recall seeing any on Japanese TV.

[oren]

I am sure that I am not the only one still waiting to find out who are these many pro heavy blinkers! Personally I can't recall seeing any on Japanese TV.

It made me watch the NHK game closer to see if anyone was blinking heavily. I didn't see any either.

[nagano]

I don't think I've seen Japanese players do it, but many Korean pros do it a lot. So far, sefo's explanation seems to be the most plausible, but we still don't know the exact technique. I will try to ask Cho Hyeyeon or Choi Dongeun about it, I'm sure they would know the answer. (Though I'm pretty sure Cho Hyeyeon doesn't do it.)

[Bonobo]

What if they’re just tired?

[cdybeijing]

Is it qualitatively different than tapping your fingers with each stone you place mentally? All strong Chinese players do that, and I have picked up the habit.

[hyperpape]

Is it qualitatively different than tapping your fingers with each stone you place mentally? All strong Chinese players do that, and I have picked up the habit.

This seems inconsistent with the feats of reading that I've heard about (reading a corner sequence that's 15 or 20 moves deep in two seconds).