# US 2014/0192325 A1 · Systems and methods for detecting blink inhibition as a marker of engagement and perceived stimulus salience > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192325 A1 - Document ID: US20140192325A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/103,640 - Filed: 2013-12-11 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-11 - Assignees: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. - Inventors: Ami KLIN; Warren JONES; Sarah SHULTZ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192325A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/165: {Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety} - A61B 3/0025: {characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models} - A61B 3/0041: {characterised by display arrangements} - A61B 3/112: {for measuring diameter of pupils} - A61B 3/113: for determining or recording eye movement - A61B 5/1103: {Detecting muscular movement of the eye, e.g. eyelid movement} - A61B 5/163: {by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change} - A61B 5/168: {Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity} - A61B 5/4088: {Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia} - A61B 5/7275: {Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor} - A61B 5/16: Devices for psychotechnics (using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00); Testing reaction times {; Devices for evaluating the psychological state} - A61B 5/167: {Personality evaluation} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present systems and methods provide a mechanism to assess viewer behavior, features of stimuli, and the interaction between viewer behavior and stimuli. The systems and methods described herein for quantifying blink response and blink inhibition provide moment-by-moments measurements of viewer engagement by measuring what is or is not engaging enough to warrant viewers' inhibition of blinking. The present disclosure describes measures of visual scanning, eye movements, blink data, and blink timing data to derive a measure of how engaged a person is with what he or she is looking at. Blink-related data as a measure of viewer engagement provides a mechanism for determining the most engaging spatial and temporal aspects of a stimulus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A method for determining a measure of engagement by an individual with respect to a dynamic visual stimulus, comprising the steps of: receiving blink data indicative of the individual's blink responses to the dynamic visual stimulus; synchronizing, via software executing on a processor, the blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus; identifying, via software executing on the processor, a pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data; and comparing, via software executing on the processor, the pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus to identify a portion of the dynamic visual stimulus contemporaneous with the pattern of blink inhibition, whereby the pattern of blink inhibition indicates a marker of engagement by the individual with the contemporaneous portion of the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamic visual stimulus comprises one or more of the following: a pre-recorded visual stimulus, a pre-recorded audiovisual stimulus, a live visual stimulus, a live audiovisual stimulus, a two-dimensional stimulus, or a three-dimensional stimulus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a comparison between the individual's blink data and a chance probability of blinking associated with the individual. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a mean blink rate for the individual during the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the contemporaneous portion of the dynamic visual stimulus comprises the entirety of the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a moment-by-moment blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point as compared to a mean blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point as compared to a mean blink rate for a control group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual as compared to measure of variance in a mean blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of the synchronized blink data as compared with control blink data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of blink inhibition relative to an event in the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the event in the dynamic visual stimulus comprises a physical event or an affective event. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of categorizing the individual into one or more predefined categories based on the marker of engagement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the marker of engagement relates to a salient portion of the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of synchronizing comprises time-locking or time-correlating the blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the blink data corresponds to a rate of change of the individual's pupil size. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the blink data corresponds to eyelid closure of the individual. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of converting, via software executing on the processor, the blink data to binary format for comparison purposes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of categorizing, via software executing on the processor, the blink data according to predetermined demographic parameters. ### Claim 21 A system for determining a measure of engagement by an individual with respect to a dynamic visual stimulus, comprising: a processor; software executing on the processor for receiving blink data indicative of the individual's blink responses to the dynamic visual stimulus; software executing on the processor for synchronizing the blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus; software executing on the processor for identifying a pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data; and software executing on the processor for comparing the pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus to identify a portion of the dynamic visual stimulus contemporaneous with the pattern of blink inhibition, whereby the pattern of blink inhibition indicates a marker of engagement by the individual with the contemporaneous portion of the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the dynamic visual stimulus comprises one or more of the following: a pre-recorded visual stimulus, a pre-recorded audiovisual stimulus, a live visual stimulus, a live audiovisual stimulus, a two-dimensional stimulus, or a three-dimensional stimulus. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a comparison between the individual's blink data and a chance probability of blinking associated with the individual. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a mean blink rate for the individual during the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the contemporaneous portion of the dynamic visual stimulus comprises the entirety of the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a moment-by-moment blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point as compared to a mean blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point as compared to a mean blink rate for a control group. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual as compared to measure of variance in a mean blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of the synchronized blink data as compared with control blink data. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of blink inhibition relative to an event in the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The system of claim 31, wherein the event in the dynamic visual stimulus comprises a physical event or an affective event. ### Claim 33 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising software executing on the processor for categorizing the individual into one or more predefined categories based on the marker of engagement. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the marker of engagement relates to a salient portion of the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 35 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the software for synchronizing further comprises software executing on the processor for time-locking or time-correlating the blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 36 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the blink data corresponds to a rate of change of the individual's pupil size. ### Claim 37 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the blink data corresponds to eyelid closure of the individual. ### Claim 38 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising software executing on the processor for converting the blink data to binary format for comparison purposes. ### Claim 39 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising software executing on the processor for categorizing the blink data according to predetermined demographic parameters. ### Claim 40 A method for assessing the risk of a mental condition in an individual using an eye monitoring device, comprising the steps of: receiving blink data indicative of the individual's blink responses to a dynamic visual stimulus displayed to the individual, wherein the blink data is collected via the eye monitoring device; synchronizing, via software executing on a processor, the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus; identifying, via software executing on the processor, a pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data; retrieving, via software executing on the processor, event data related to the dynamic visual stimulus from a database; and comparing, via software executing on the processor, a parameter of the pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data with a parameter of the event data related to the dynamic visual stimulus to determine at least one delta parameter, wherein the at least one delta parameter indicates a likelihood that the individual has a mental disorder. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the parameter of the event data comprises a predetermined time-stamped event. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the parameter of the event data comprises a time value. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the parameter of the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a time value. ### Claim 44 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one delta parameter comprises a time value that exceeds a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 45 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one delta parameter comprises a time value that is less than a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 46 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of providing a diagnosis to the individual based on the at least one delta parameter. ### Claim 47 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the mental condition comprises a developmental or cognitive disorder. ### Claim 48 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the event data corresponds to one or more of the following: physical events within the dynamic visual stimulus, affective events within the dynamic visual stimulus, events presumed to cause or inhibit blinking based on the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 49 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the step of synchronizing comprises time-locking or time-correlating the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 50 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a comparison between the individual's blink data and a chance probability of blinking associated with the individual. ### Claim 51 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a mean blink rate for the individual during the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 52 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a moment-by-moment blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 53 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point as compared to a mean blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 54 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point as compared to a mean blink rate for a control group. ### Claim 55 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual as compared to measure of variance in a mean blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 56 A system for assessing the risk of a mental condition in an individual using an eye monitoring device, comprising: a processor; software executing on the processor for receiving blink data indicative of the individual's blink responses to a dynamic visual stimulus displayed to the individual, wherein the blink data is collected via the eye monitoring device; software executing on the processor for synchronizing the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus; software executing on the processor for identifying a pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data; software executing on the processor for retrieving event data related to the dynamic visual stimulus from a database; and software executing on the processor for comparing a parameter of the pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data with a parameter of the event data related to the dynamic visual stimulus to determine at least one delta parameter, wherein the at least one delta parameter indicates a likelihood that the individual has a mental disorder. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the parameter of the event data comprises a predetermined time-stamped event. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the parameter of the event data comprises a time value. ### Claim 59 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the parameter of the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a time value. ### Claim 60 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one delta parameter comprises a time value that exceeds a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 61 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one delta parameter comprises a time value that is less than a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 62 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, further comprising software executing on the processor for providing a diagnosis to the individual based on the at least one delta parameter. ### Claim 63 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the mental condition comprises a developmental or cognitive disorder. ### Claim 64 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the event data corresponds to one or more of the following: physical events within the dynamic visual stimulus, affective events within the dynamic visual stimulus, events presumed to cause or inhibit blinking based on the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 65 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the software for synchronizing further comprises software executing on the processor for time-locking or time-correlating the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 66 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a comparison between the individual's blink data and a chance probability of blinking associated with the individual. ### Claim 67 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a mean blink rate for the individual during the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 68 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a moment-by-moment blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 69 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point as compared to a mean blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 70 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point as compared to a mean blink rate for a control group. ### Claim 71 (depends on 56) The system of claim 56, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual as compared to measure of variance in a mean blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 72 A method for evaluating, monitoring, or diagnosing a mental condition in an individual using an eye monitoring device, comprising the steps of: receiving blink data indicative of the individual's blink responses to a dynamic visual stimulus displayed to the individual, wherein the blink data is collected using the eye monitoring device; synchronizing, via software executing on a processor, the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus; identifying, via software executing on the processor, a pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data; retrieving, via software executing on the processor, a control pattern of blink inhibition for the dynamic visual stimulus displayed to the individual from a database; and comparing, via software executing on the processor, the pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data with the control pattern of blink inhibition to determine whether the pattern of blink inhibition falls outside a range of the control pattern of blink inhibition and thereby indicates a likelihood that the individual has a mental condition. ### Claim 73 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the mental condition comprises a developmental or cognitive disorder. ### Claim 74 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the step of synchronizing comprises time-locking or time-correlating the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 75 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the blink data for the individual corresponds to a rate of change of pupil size for the individual. ### Claim 76 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the blink data corresponds to eyelid closure for the individual. ### Claim 77 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, further comprising the step of converting, via software executing on the processor, the blink data to binary format for identification purposes. ### Claim 78 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the control pattern of blink inhibition comprises an average blink rate for a plurality of individuals in response to the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 79 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the control pattern of blink inhibition comprises a probability distribution of average blink rates for a plurality of individuals as obtained by permuting the blink data of the plurality of individuals. ### Claim 80 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the step of permuting the data of the plurality of individuals comprises circular shifting with respect to an original timing of blink data collection. ### Claim 81 (depends on 79) The method of claim 79, wherein the step of permuting the data of the plurality of individuals comprises randomizing an order of blinks and inter-blink intervals for each individual. ### Claim 82 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a mean blink rate for the individual during the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 83 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a moment-by-moment blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 84 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point and the control pattern of blink inhibition comprises an instantaneous blink rate for a control group. ### Claim 85 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the control pattern of blink inhibition comprises an average blink rate for the individual when no dynamic visual stimulus is present. ### Claim 86 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of blink inhibition relative to an event in the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 87 (depends on 86) The method of claim 86, wherein the event in the dynamic visual stimulus comprises a physical event or an affective event. ### Claim 88 (depends on 72) The method of claim 72, wherein the control pattern of blink inhibition indicates a severity of the mental condition. ### Claim 89 A system for evaluating, monitoring, or diagnosing a mental condition in an individual using an eye monitoring device, comprising: a processor; software executing on the processor for receiving blink data indicative of the individual's blink responses to a dynamic visual stimulus displayed to the individual, wherein the blink data is collected using the eye monitoring device; software executing on the processor for synchronizing the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus; software executing on the processor for identifying a pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data; software executing on the processor for retrieving a control pattern of blink inhibition for the dynamic visual stimulus displayed to the individual from a database; and software executing on the processor for comparing the pattern of blink inhibition in the synchronized blink data with the control pattern of blink inhibition to determine whether the pattern of blink inhibition falls outside a range of the control pattern of blink inhibition and thereby indicates a likelihood that the individual has a mental condition. ### Claim 90 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the mental condition comprises a developmental or cognitive disorder. ### Claim 91 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the software for synchronizing further comprises software executing on the processor for time-locking or time-correlating the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 92 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the blink data for the individual corresponds to a rate of change of pupil size for the individual. ### Claim 93 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the blink data corresponds to eyelid closure for the individual. ### Claim 94 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, further comprising software executing on the processor for converting the blink data to binary format for identification purposes. ### Claim 95 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the control pattern of blink inhibition comprises an average blink rate for a plurality of individuals in response to the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 96 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the control pattern of blink inhibition comprises a probability distribution of average blink rates for a plurality of individuals as obtained by permuting the blink data of the plurality of individuals. ### Claim 97 (depends on 96) The system of claim 96, wherein the step of permuting the data of the plurality of individuals comprises circular shifting with respect to an original timing of blink data collection. ### Claim 98 (depends on 96) The system of claim 96, wherein the step of permuting the data of the plurality of individuals comprises randomizing an order of blinks and inter-blink intervals for each individual. ### Claim 99 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a mean blink rate for the individual during the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 100 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a moment-by-moment blink rate for the individual. ### Claim 101 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of an instantaneous blink rate for the individual at a certain time point and the control pattern of blink inhibition comprises an instantaneous blink rate for a control group. ### Claim 102 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the control pattern of blink inhibition comprises an average blink rate for the individual when no dynamic visual stimulus is present. ### Claim 103 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the pattern of blink inhibition comprises a measure of blink inhibition relative to an event in the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 104 (depends on 103) The system of claim 103, wherein the event in the dynamic visual stimulus comprises a physical event or an affective event. ### Claim 105 (depends on 89) The system of claim 89, wherein the control pattern of blink inhibition indicates a severity of the mental condition. ### Claim 106 A method for displaying visual engagement over time of a plurality of individuals with respect to a dynamic visual stimulus, comprising the steps of: receiving blink data indicative of blink responses to the dynamic visual stimulus for each of the plurality of individuals; retrieving, via software executing on a processor, control blink data from a database; comparing, via software executing on the processor, the received blink data to the control blink data to identify one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data; and generating, via software executing on the processor, a display of the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data. ### Claim 107 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, wherein the blink data for each of the plurality of individuals corresponds to a rate of change for each individual's pupil size. ### Claim 108 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, wherein the blink data for each of the plurality of individuals corresponds to eyelid closure. ### Claim 109 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, further comprising the step of converting, via software executing on the processor, the blink data to binary format for comparison purposes. ### Claim 110 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, further comprising the step of aggregating, via software executing on the processor, the blink data for the plurality of individuals. ### Claim 111 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, wherein the control blink data comprises an average blink rate for the plurality of individuals when no dynamic visual stimulus is present. ### Claim 112 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, wherein the control blink data comprises an average blink rate for a group of individuals different from the plurality of individuals when no dynamic visual stimulus is present. ### Claim 113 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, wherein the control blink data comprise a probability distribution of average blink rates for the plurality of individuals as obtained by permuting the blink data of the plurality of individuals. ### Claim 114 (depends on 113) The method of claim 113, wherein the step of permuting the data of the plurality of individuals comprises circular shifting with respect to an original timing of blink data collection. ### Claim 115 (depends on 113) The method of claim 113, wherein the step of permuting the data of the plurality of individuals comprises randomizing an order of blinks and inter-blink intervals for each individual. ### Claim 116 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, wherein the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data comprise one or more of the following: increased blink rate as compared to the control blink data, decreased blink rate as compared to the control blink data, lack of blinks within a predetermined time period, exceeding a predetermined number of blinks within a predetermined time period. ### Claim 117 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, wherein the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data is a marker of a developmental, cognitive, or mental disorder. ### Claim 118 (depends on 117) The method of claim 117, further comprising the step of using the display of the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data in connection with a diagnosis of an individual. ### Claim 119 (depends on 106) The method of claim 106, further comprising the steps of: synchronizing, via software executing on the processor, the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus; and generating, via software executing on the processor, a display of the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data in connection with the dynamic visual stimulus. ### Claim 120 A system for displaying visual engagement over time of a plurality of individuals with respect to a dynamic visual stimulus, comprising: a processor; software executing on the processor for receiving blink data indicative of blink responses to the dynamic visual stimulus for each of the plurality of individuals; software executing on the processor for retrieving control blink data from a database; software executing on the processor for comparing the received blink data to the control blink data to identify one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data; and software executing on the processor for generating a display of the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data. ### Claim 121 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, wherein the blink data for each of the plurality of individuals corresponds to a rate of change for each individual's pupil size. ### Claim 122 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, wherein the blink data for each of the plurality of individuals corresponds to eyelid closure. ### Claim 123 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, further comprising software executing on the processor for converting the blink data to binary format for comparison purposes. ### Claim 124 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, further comprising software executing on the processor for aggregating the blink data for the plurality of individuals. ### Claim 125 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, wherein the control blink data comprises an average blink rate for the plurality of individuals when no dynamic visual stimulus is present. ### Claim 126 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, wherein the control blink data comprises an average blink rate for a group of individuals different from the plurality of individuals when no dynamic visual stimulus is present. ### Claim 127 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, wherein the control blink data comprise a probability distribution of average blink rates for the plurality of individuals as obtained by permuting the blink data of the plurality of individuals. ### Claim 128 (depends on 127) The system of claim 127, wherein the step of permuting the data of the plurality of individuals comprises circular shifting with respect to an original timing of blink data collection. ### Claim 129 (depends on 127) The system of claim 127, wherein the step of permuting the data of the plurality of individuals comprises randomizing an order of blinks and inter-blink intervals for each individual. ### Claim 130 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, wherein the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data comprise one or more of the following: increased blink rate as compared to the control blink data, decreased blink rate as compared to the control blink data, lack of blinks within a predetermined time period, exceeding a predetermined number of blinks within a predetermined time period. ### Claim 131 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, wherein the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data is a marker of a developmental, cognitive, or mental disorder. ### Claim 132 (depends on 131) The system of claim 131, further comprising software executing on the processor for using the display of the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data in connection with a diagnosis of an individual. ### Claim 133 (depends on 120) The system of claim 120, further comprising: software executing on the processor for synchronizing the received blink data with the dynamic visual stimulus; and software executing on the processor for generating a display of the one or more differences between the received blink data and the control blink data in connection with the dynamic visual stimulus.