9. Understanding Blink Rates: What Horses Teach Us About Stress and Therapy

Eye contact is a fundamental aspect of human interaction, conveying emotions, intentions, and levels of engagement. Various studies have explored its significance, revealing how direct gazes can establish trust, convey confidence, and facilitate deeper connections.   In today’s episode Brenda continues her discussion on eye contact and how it appears in research, especially in relation to horses. Understanding eye contact and gazing, not just in humans but in animals like horses, offers a fascinating perspective on emotional communication and stress responses. One specific area of interest is the blink rate in domestic horses. Studies have shown that blinking increases in horses as they experience stress, a response that is likely similar to humans. When humans are stressed, their blink rate often increases, reflecting heightened anxiety or tension. How does this research on gazes and blink rates in horses relate to effective therapy? The key lies in the ability to determine the best moments for therapeutic interventions. Just as horses may feel stressed or relaxed based on their blink rate and eye contact, clients in therapy also exhibit non-verbal cues that can indicate their emotional state. By integrating this knowledge, therapists can enhance their ability to read non-verbal cues, creating more effective and empathetic therapeutic interventions. As Brenda continues her exploration, the connection between research and practice becomes increasingly clear, offering new pathways to understanding and supporting both human and animal emotional well-being. Connect with Brenda with the link below www.connectiontherapypodcast.com References Mentioned in this Episode: Paul Ekman, Facial Action Coding System (FACS) https://www.paulekman.com/facial-action-coding-system/ Mott, R., Hawthorne, S., & McBride, S. (2020).  “Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus).” Sci Rep 10, 21409. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78386-z  Brenda Murrow, (2013) A Quantitative exploration into the effects of the human and animal connection.  (Doctoral dissertation).  Pacifica Graduate Institute. Stephen Porges (2011). Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. Bessel Van der Kolk (2015). The Body Keeps the Score.  Smith AV, Proops L, Grounds K, Wathan J, McComb K. (2016) “Functionally relevant responses to human facial expressions of emotion in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)”. Biol Lett. Feb;12(2):20150907. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0907