I have never really checked but it seems to have something to do with tears..
2006-08-04 13:54:16 · 8 answers · asked by Nenc 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
To add a little to Ted's fine answer, I remember a study years ago that not only suggested that sunlight-induced sneezing was hereditary, but also whether a person sneezed once or twice.
2006-08-04 16:34:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sneezing provoked by sudden exposure to intensely bright light is known as the photic sneeze reflex. It is not uncommon-about one in 10 people are photic sneezers. Some studies suggest it may be due to an accidental crossing of nerve signals involved in normal sneezing and pupil dilation. But the photic sneeze reflex occurs only after someone has been adapted to the dark for at least five minutes. Even photic sneezers' pupils will adjust normally (without triggering a sneeze) if they go in and out of bright light for short periods of time, so the real mystery is why an extended period of darkness makes a difference. The reflex is not troublesome to most people, but it is of considerable interest to scientists. The trait travels in families'approximately 50 percent of children born to photic sneezers are photic sneezers themselves-so it should be possible to identify one or more genes that are responsible. The photic sneeze reflex may also relate to other reflex phenomena. For example, people with epilepsy frequently have seizures induced by strobe lights, and visual stimuli can precipitate headaches in many migraine patients. Studying the photic sneeze reflex is likely to improve our understanding of sensory pathways in the nervous system, as well as the circuitry of the sneezing reflex.
2006-08-04 21:00:50 · answer #2 · answered by ted_armentrout 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am one of those who sneezes because of bright light and was told once that it is because some of the nerve signals get crossed.
Interestingly, I also sneeze when I eat strong mints (like Altoids).
Stand back if you see me popping an Altoid as I walk from a dark building out into bright sunlight.
2006-08-04 23:28:24 · answer #3 · answered by Will 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people I know are allergic to bright sunlight. Not sure the science behind it, but he sure does sneeze everytime the sun beats down on him.
2006-08-04 23:59:36 · answer #4 · answered by Maxable 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never had bright light make me sneeze.
2006-08-04 22:30:43 · answer #5 · answered by fireman_4_69 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it has something to do with "firing off" certain synapsis that trigger a type of "fight or flight" response exibited thru sneezing.
2006-08-04 20:58:45 · answer #6 · answered by adgmonkey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is all because of our reflexes popularly known as photic-reflexes!
2006-08-04 21:51:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
we have reflexes
2006-08-04 20:57:29 · answer #8 · answered by mel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋