VOL 4 Test 4 - Photic sneezing

Background

Some people react to sunlight by:

• a prickle in the nose
• faster 1
• watery eyes 

, relieved by a sneeze

• This 'photic' sneeze cannot be controlled and is a 2 reflex.

Sneezing in general

• A sneeze is caused by some kind of irritation in the nose.
• Nerve endings in the 3 are stimulated, leading to an explosion of air.
• It is co-ordinated by the same mechanism that controls the production of 4

Research into photic sneezing

• The condition has been known for thousands of years.
• Aristotle: Why does the sun cause sneezing while a 5 does not?
• Bacon showed the cause was light.
• Everett found 80% of photic sneezers shared the habit with 6

Indicators

• Photic sneezers usually produce the same 7 of sneezes.
• The reaction is caused by a 8 in brightness.
• The sneeze takes 9 to recharge.

Application

• The condition was often ignored apart from some research on photic sneezing among 10
• But studying it may result in breakthroughs for more serious conditions.