Eyeblink EMG: a miniature eyelid electrode for recording from orbicularis oculi.

Reflex blinking is primarily controlled by fast fibers of the palpebral portion of the orbicularis oculi but it is difficult to record EMG from these fibers with standard surface electrodes. To solve this problem, a small, easily-prepared, silver/silver chloride electrode embedded in a dental cement casing was developed. Using this electrode, recordings could be obtained from the palpebral component which were of high quality and were many times larger than those recorded from the slow or mixed fibers in the orbital portion.