Poe reminder, and sneeze question

[mollyringle]

We've got lots of volunteers to read a couple lines each of "The Raven," certainly enough to cover at least a few stanzas, but we can always fit in a few more. Check this post to see what's entailed and sign up! There's still time.

Question for those who may know:
It's fairly common to sneeze when confronted with bright light; it has to do with your eyes watering and tickling your nose or something. (Edit: Or perhaps it's just genetic. No one seems sure. I have this trait, anyway.) But why in the world does my son sneeze, just once, almost every morning, after his first bite of toast? It's a mystery to me. But at least it's sort of cute.

Comments

[indrifan.livejournal.com]

I have no guesses about the toast sneezes, but for what it's worth, I have a friend in his mid-40s who sneezes when he eats chocolate. Just once, after his first bite. Apparently he's done this his whole life, and doesn't seem any worse off for it.

I do the sunshine sneezing thing too.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Hah! Interesting on the chocolate thing. I may have to apply for a research grant on that. Our brains are strange things indeed.

[kirstenfleur.livejournal.com]

Bright light= sneezing for me and daughter, but not husband. Hmmm.

What's on his toast? Is it just plain, or buttered, or vegemite, or what? How cutely odd!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

It's buttered, generally. But that doesn't seem connected to the sneeze. A great mystery of science, indeed...

[extrajoker.livejournal.com]

Photic Sneeze Reflex:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze_reflex

My father and I have this, as does a friend of mine from work. I first heard about it on someone else's blog -- the "differentelves" LJ feed, I think.

If it's true that the condition's genetic and only affects about 30-some percent of the population, that would certainly explain the strange looks I've gotten when I tell people whose noses are itching that they should look into a light to ease the sneeze out.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Yep, photic sneeze reflex, that's the one. Hehe, I've had the same confused or exasperated reaction from people when I offer that suggestion. Jeez, I thought it was a general thing...

[extrajoker.livejournal.com]

Here is the blog post I mentioned: 10 Interesting Reflexes.

A later post in the same blog lists 10 Interesting Syndromes.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Wow...weird stuff! Photic sneezing seems the very least of it.