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Look here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze_reflex
although I was told years ago that there was a release of an enzyme(not common to everyone) involved which would explain why it is not a universal effect.
This is known as (believe it or not), the Achoo Syndrome or Photic Sneeze Reflex.
Around 1 in 10 of an average sample of the population are photic sneezers and about 50% of these have inherited the trait from a parent.
There has been much debate over the years as to how the reflex occurs. The most popular theory, supported by anatomical evidence of the human skull, is that a group of nerves responsible for dilation of the pupils when we look at bright light passes through the skull bundled with a group of nerves controlling the sneeze reflex.
In simple terms, the theory states that somehow the electrical signals travelling within these nerves cross over and become "mixed up" with each other resulting in the sneeze.
In essence, you might like to think about it as a design problem of Homo sapiens. Had these nerve fibres been rerouted through any of the other orifices within the skull, it is unlikely the problem would ever have occured.
Around 1 in 10 of an average sample of the population are photic sneezers and about 50% of these have inherited the trait from a parent.
There has been much debate over the years as to how the reflex occurs. The most popular theory, supported by anatomical evidence of the human skull, is that a group of nerves responsible for dilation of the pupils when we look at bright light passes through the skull bundled with a group of nerves controlling the sneeze reflex.
In simple terms, the theory states that somehow the electrical signals travelling within these nerves cross over and become "mixed up" with each other resulting in the sneeze.
In essence, you might like to think about it as a design problem of Homo sapiens. Had these nerve fibres been rerouted through any of the other orifices within the skull, it is unlikely the problem would ever have occured.
As far as this goes Leda74, you could say many of us are malformed and thus in the same boat. I've been troubled by this reflex action for years and so have many of my friends and colleagues.
Rest assured, you're not alone!
I should have mentioned that those nerves I discussed are responsible for contraction as well as dilation of the pupils.
Rest assured, you're not alone!
I should have mentioned that those nerves I discussed are responsible for contraction as well as dilation of the pupils.
Yes, you're right enough about that "lost sneeze". Once that single sneeze is over with, it's generally the end of the matter.
I suppose the most disconcerting stage is knowing that the moment you walk out of that glass door into the bright sushine, you know you're going to sneeze and nothing on earth will prevent it.
It's just one of those things we all learn to live with.
I suppose the most disconcerting stage is knowing that the moment you walk out of that glass door into the bright sushine, you know you're going to sneeze and nothing on earth will prevent it.
It's just one of those things we all learn to live with.
looking at the sun or a bright sky causes you to sneeze.
this is infact a safety mechinizm used by the body to protect your retina (back of the eye).
sneezeing causes the eyes to shut tight for a secod or too.
sneezing is an innate response to protect your body, as it does many things. when you sneeze, you expell far more air from your lungs than normal. good if you brethe in dust, also it protects you eyes from being cooked by the sun
lord molly
lord molly:
Sorry but your mistaken with your explanation.
There would be no useful purpose served in closing the eyes for the duration of a sneeze. After all, eyes are kept open for far longer periods than that in bright sunlight. If this were not the case, everyone returning from their mediterranean holiday would come back blind - people don't always wear their sunglasses.
The retina is well able to withstand short bursts of intense sunlight and fairly prolonged periods of less intense light. The eyelids provide adequate additional protection unless extremely intense light is encountered.
Extremely intense light of specific wavelengths can penetrate the eyelids and destroy the retina. However, such light sources are not encountered in the environment.
Unless you were in a dusty atmosphere, sneezing during exposure to instantaneosly strong sunlight would serve no purpose at all. Sneezing does not prevent your eyes being cooked by the sun.
It's accepted that humans are not perfectly designed, but I think that The Almighty would have to have something of an unusual sense of humour to make us sneeze when looking at bright sunlight. As I said in the earlier post, its nothing other than a design problem.
My earlier post discusses current thinking on the phenomenon and this remains the most prevalent explanation amongst scientists as the skull anatomy and nerve pathways support it.
Sorry but your mistaken with your explanation.
There would be no useful purpose served in closing the eyes for the duration of a sneeze. After all, eyes are kept open for far longer periods than that in bright sunlight. If this were not the case, everyone returning from their mediterranean holiday would come back blind - people don't always wear their sunglasses.
The retina is well able to withstand short bursts of intense sunlight and fairly prolonged periods of less intense light. The eyelids provide adequate additional protection unless extremely intense light is encountered.
Extremely intense light of specific wavelengths can penetrate the eyelids and destroy the retina. However, such light sources are not encountered in the environment.
Unless you were in a dusty atmosphere, sneezing during exposure to instantaneosly strong sunlight would serve no purpose at all. Sneezing does not prevent your eyes being cooked by the sun.
It's accepted that humans are not perfectly designed, but I think that The Almighty would have to have something of an unusual sense of humour to make us sneeze when looking at bright sunlight. As I said in the earlier post, its nothing other than a design problem.
My earlier post discusses current thinking on the phenomenon and this remains the most prevalent explanation amongst scientists as the skull anatomy and nerve pathways support it.
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