Why do people look into a bright light when they need to sneeze ??

Question

If i put my hand in front of my gf eyes, she cant sneeze. Can anyone explain why she need to look into a light to make herself sneeze

Answer 1

The so-called "Photic Sneeze"

The mechanism of the bright light sneeze reflex seems to be an association of optic nerve fibers and trigeminal nerve nucleus in the mid-brain.

The trigeminal nerve's second division supplies sensory fibers to the nasal mucosa. It is postulated that nerve impulses travelling up the optic nerve will cause a sympathetic discharge down the trigeminal nerve fibers.

Another mechanism postulates that partial squinting of the eyes resulting from the bright light causes squeezing of the lacrimal sac which results in tears running down the nasolacrimal duct into the nasal cavity, causing stimulation ofthe nasal cavity and a sneeze.

Breitenbach and others studied the effects of various light wave lengths to see which, if any, would be more likely to cause a sneeze. They found no diffrence. They also found that the response could be prevented by wearing sunglasses. ...

Answer 2

Actually, I think it is the other way round. Looking into a bright light makes many people sneeze whether they want to or not. The reason is to do with eye muscles reacting to the sudden bright light. Muscles within your eye close down the aperture and others behind the eyeball cause the lids to "cringe". Those movements cause irritation just inside the nasal cavity at the bridge of your nose. Your brain reacts as if a little object had been breathed in and makes you sneeze, as if to get rid of it. One way to suppress a sneeze in bright sunshine is to close your eyes and shield them with your hand. Often, the irritation will go away and so will the sneeze.

Answer 3

You don't need to look in to a bright light to sneeze and although I have no evidence if I got a whiff of something in the dark I think I'd sneeze.

The fact is bright lights CAUSE people to sneeze. Its actually a well documented phemenon known as the photic sneeze and a real worry to fighter pilots. I think its caused by an excess of information - your optic 'sensors' get overwhelmed for a second and it makes you sneeze.

Answer 4

The nerves of the nose and eyes are closely packed together, and so with major srimulation there can be 'cross-over' between the two senses.

So a bright light can help the sneeze motivation.

Answer 5

i can do this. by glancing at bright sunlight i can make myself sneeze. its known as photic sneeze reflex and is an inherited condition that infects between 5 and 25% of people. it is completely harmless caused by a close association between the eyes optic nerve and your nasal senses. the flash of light triggers a reaction to the light which results in a sneeze

Answer 6

I'm like her too, when I look up into the sunlight or any bright light,I
sneeze, and I don't know why, maybe because my eyes and the nerves around my nose are connected heavily.

Answer 7

The bright light is seen as an irritation and that is translated into that little push to sneeze. I don't really know how it works, but yeah, it does...

Answer 8

looking at at sunlight or a bright light (although generally sunlight) will make you sneeze, as in crease the nazal passages anddecrease surface area of the inside of your throat and thorax, meanign the mucas has a need to escape.
Although, i am not doubly sure what the term is, but lookign at the sun and sneezing, is in fact a hereditary feature, and is foudn in your jeans, not everyone will look at the sun and sneeze, only those who have inheretited it from one of their parents

Answer 9

I don't know why she can't sneeze or would want to sneeze, but sometimes when I see strong sun light it makes me sneeze too. I don't know why though.

Answer 10

Never known that. Normally when you sneeze it makes you close your eyes.