It gets its name from the fact that it involves an interplay between your vagus nerve and your blood vessels. Sneezing is a natural response of your body against bacteria and viruses. Fact: there is scientific evidence that looking at the sun can trigger sneezing, … Because alterations in the parasympathetic and trigeminal nerve systems have been implicated in PSS, and such systems are involved in migraine and stress-related disorders, we examined the possible associations of PSS with migraine and psychological distress. However, another obstacle -- sneezing -- can be harder to overcome. As with all reflexes, sneezing involves a reflex arc consisting of a receptor, a sensory nerve, an integration center, a motor nerve and an effector. The reflex is based on activation ( by a submaximal response) of spindle afferent fibers after which it travels up the sensory fibers into the spinal cord down the motor nerve fibers to the muscle. When particles enter your nostrils, your nasal passageways may become itchy and irritated. Some people with photic sneeze reflex are also sensitive to other types of stimuli. The most complex of any paired nerve in the head, the trigeminal nerve has three major branches which lead to the eyes, jaw, and nose. This can happen after eating spicy foods or a large meal. It’s not only a change in light that can trigger the sneeze reflex. [18] Although the syndrome is thought to affect about 18-35% of the human population, it is relatively harmless and not widely studied. An example of directly stimulating would be plucking an eyebrow or pulling hair. But if you have the trait, you’ll likely sneeze multiple times in response to bright light. It’s important to note that while bright light can bring on ACHOO syndrome, the reflex isn’t trigged by light itself, but by a change in light intensity. The gene responsible for photic sneezing hasn’t been identified. The photic sneeze reflex (also known as Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst (ACHOO) syndrome[1] or photosneezia, from the Greek φῶς, phōs, "light" and colloquially sun sneezing) is a reflex condition that causes sneezing in response to numerous stimuli, such as looking at bright lights or periocular (surrounding the eyeball) injection. Sitting in a brightly lit house might not trigger a sneeze. Rapid inspiration fills the lung with extra air. Why sneeze? Sneezing can also arise due to bright light or sun (ACHOO syn-drome), physical stimulants of the trigeminal nerve, psychogenic or central nervous system pathologies and even due to a full stomach (sna-tiation reflex) or a sexual ideation. Mechanism of cough reflex The bronchi and non-cartilaginous part of the trachea collapse to form slits through which air is forced,which clears out any irritants attached to the respiratory lining 8. [3], A study conducted by the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that females represent 67% of photic sneezers, and Caucasians represent 94%. [23] The genetic basis of photic sneezing still remains unclear, and single genes for this condition have not been found and studied. Sneezing occurs in response to irritation in the nasal cavity, which results in an afferent nerve fiber signal propagating through the ophthalmic and maxillary branches of the trigeminal nerve to the trigeminal nerve nuclei in the brainstem. Some theories are below. In this first comprehensive review of the sneeze reflex in the Because sneezing causes involuntary eye closure, multiple sneezes while driving could cause a traffic accident. The vagal response is an automatic response within our bodies that occurs as a result of stimulation of our vagus nerve. This chain of events leads to increased sensitivity to stimulation and reduced threshold for involuntary responses. 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