Blink-Chew Test

The blink-chewing test is a method for assessing the state of the reflex arc between the skin (cutaneous-temporal nerve) and the masticatory muscles. This test also includes the muscles of the head and neck.

The test is called a blink test because the patient is asked to blink to the side of the muscle being tested, which may be the temporal or frontal. The patient has two reactions to this task at once. First, the patient tenses the muscle he needs to achieve the goal of the reflex and put it into action. Also, several neighboring muscles are simultaneously activated to help the patient complete the task. Example: If the goal is to raise the right arm, the muscle block will include the right and left arms, the right side of the chest, and even some muscles of the neck and face. The more a muscle group is activated, the more active the reaction is and vice versa. For this test, it is preferable to select young patients who have not yet developed muscle paralysis and weak reflex reactions. This test is often used for various spinal cord diseases. During the test, the functional state of the human nervous system is assessed. The degree of functioning of the reflex indicates the speed of nerve conduction