Talk:Photic sneeze reflex

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[edit] Backronym

Good article, but unless somebody can come up with a mildly authoritative cite, that clever "ADCHOO" backronym has got to go... Jpatokal 09:20, 21 Jul 2004 (UTC)

"...is a medical condition by which people exposed to bright light involuntarily sneeze" Is it possible to voluntarily sneeze? Benny 17:46, 12 August 2005 (UTC)

So fix it. I can voluntarily sneeze by tickling my nostril with Q-Tips. JFW | T@lk 13:24, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

ACHOO is legit ... added the reference. sallison 23:00, 8 September 2005 (UTC)

  • I don't know enough about the science bit (hah!) to confidently edit the page, but if that's what 'ACHOO' actually stands for, then surely it's not a backronym? If you take a look at the backronym article, it describes it in detail. I'd say that's an acronym, maybe even an apronym? Backronyms attribute new (and often ironic) meanings to an acronym and often stem from folk etymologies, such as POSH supposedly meaning Port Out Starboard Home. ACHOO might be 'whimsical', but it's still from the initial letters of the recognised phrase, from the looks of the article. Well quite 19:31, 20 August 2006 (UTC)
  • I have this condition, but only when there is a need to sneeze. It basically assists the sneezing and so causes no problem looking at brights light alone. This is an advantage to me. If look at bright light on purpose, I get the sneeze done faster if I feel the need to do. Is there any information about this occuring? Or am I the only one of the kind?
This is the wrong place to talk about it but I'm exactly the same. If I have even a mild urge to sneeze that feels like it might pass, glancing towards a bright light or especially looking out of a window at the bright sky will trigger the sneeze and it will usually be more intense than a normal one. I've noticed lately though that being in a bright location can make me a bit "sneezy" in general. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.213.12.174 (talk) 14:28, August 29, 2007 (UTC)
  • I have this condition too, so do both of my daughters. I can voluntarily sneeze by looking at bright lights, even if I didn't previously feel the urge to sneeze. Another thing about this condition, as it is with me, it will prolong the euphoric feeling that preceeds a sneeze and make me drowsy. If I forget my shades on a sunny day, I'll want to sleep all day.... Willie —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.197.159.221 (talk) 17:08, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Merge photic reflex into photic sneeze reflex

It has been proposed that the photic reflex page be merged into this page. I agree. The information on that page should just be replaced with a redirect to this page. None of the information currently there needs to be carried over. sallison 07:34, 8 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Earliest known written reference

For the historically curious, I found the Aristotle quote that this article mentions:

Q. Why does the heat of the sun provoke sneezing, and not the heat of the fire?
A. Because the heat  of the sun doth dissolve, but not consume, and therefore the
   vapour dissolved is expelled by sneezing; but the heat of the fire doth dissolve
   and consume, and therefore doth rather hinder sneezing than provoke it.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12699/12699-h/12699-h.htm#BOOK_OF_PROBLEMS_Of_the_Nose I will leave it up to others to decide whether or not that is interesting enough to add to the article. Bob the Hamster 18:11, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

That in itself is just a full quote, which IMHO is not particularly suitable, but it is a great reference. Thanks. JFW | T@lk 23:07, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Missing References

What is the source of this fact?

In addition this sneeze reflex can be brought on by a sudden inhailing of cold air or a strong flavor such as a strong mint gum. This implies an overstimulation of any nerve close to the trigeminal nerve can cause the sneeze reflex.


I don't know about the source, but I will say, I sneeze when I eat a strong mint, but not bright sunlight or sudden cold. --WhiteDragon 18:03, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Another

What is the source of this assertion? It has been suggested that the photic sneeze reflex occurs only after someone has been adapted to the dark for at least five minutes, although this is not certain, and is not uniform amongst people with the photic sneeze reflex Also: always and not uniform are contradictory. rewinn 04:18, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Where does it say always? frogTape (talk) 02:43, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Malfunction...or protective reflex?

Is there evidence that this reflex is truly a malfunction or could it be a protective reflex? The fact that it's found more with caucasians suggests that it could have a protective purpose which could have something to do with snow (especially in spring time and high UV exposure), ambient lighting and dark winters vs bright summers. What I've noticed is that it's almost always only sunlight that triggers the effect and rarely an artificial light source suggesting that its triggered by something in sun light, like UV rays. - G3, 12:54, 4 May 2006 (UTC)

For a protective reflex, what is being protected? Just curious and I "suffer" from the condition firsthand. I likewise almost always sneeze when exposed to a sudden change in natural lighting and likewise rarely sneeze when the light source is artificial. I can also back up the multiple sneezes mention in the article as nearly always my sneezes tend to be triggered for three consecutive times, rarely two and extremely rarely, if at all, one. Though my brother shares the condition, my parents do not.
I believe it's simply that sunlight is much much brighter than any artificial light. In the presence of very bright artificial light, I can sometimes feel a sneeze building, but it usually "gets stuck". I would be willing to throw out the protetion theory based on that experience. It seems to get stronger with a brighter light, and it isn't only sunlight that does it. --BennyD 00:06, 28 July 2006 (UTC)
Ditto. For me, it's not so much artificial vs. natural light, but rather the brightness of the light. -- Superdosh 00:11, 28 July 2006 (UTC)
I have no problem sneezing from artificial light; I just have to get really close. --72.43.149.190 15:30, 23 January 2007 (UTC)
I believe it has something to do with the total amount of light hitting the retina. I very bright light in the distance doesn't do it, but looking up at the sky on a bright day does, as does getting up close to a bright light so that it covers most of my field of view. --JeffW 22:38, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
I do this, I have always thought of it as a protective reflex as it forces me to look away from the sky when I sneeze. It could possibly protect against a blinding light. In the land of the blind the Photic Sneezers are king... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 143.117.161.148 (talk) 14:15, 9 March 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Proposed merger with Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst Syndrome

These articles refer to the same condition and should be merged. --apers0n 09:42, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

I agree, merge the painfully long ACHOO title into this one. --Blainster 21:31, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
Ditto (hilarious though)--DO11.10 01:18, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

This was merged LeeVJ (talk) 22:45, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Proposede new section

Well, I happen to have this disease, and I have seen on this talk page various descriptions of what triggers the sneeze. Should we add a section listing possible irritants that bring on a sneeze? Should say something like:

  • Sneezes can be brought on by any of these (but not necessarily all, from person-to-person)
    • Most commonly, a sudden transition from the eye receiving little light to a lot of light (e.g., stepping out of a dark theater into a bright parking lot)
    • For some, it can only be brought on by sunlight; others by any bright light.
    • A sudden transition from breathing warm air to breathing cold air.
    • A particularly strong taste, such as strong mint gum.
    • Some people don't even have to be in a dark place and transition to a bright place; any especially strong light will trigger a sneeze.
    • Some people can only sneeze once; quite a few always sneeze twice. A few can even sneeze three times in particularly harsh conditions. There is evidence that sneeze-once (under normal conditions) and sneeze-twice (under normal conditions) is genetically based. [citation needed]


sounds good to me, except for that last item, which seems too detailed ot leave unsourced. I happen to sneeze upwards of a half dozen times when it happens to me.

Personally I'd say leave all of it out until you can find a reference. Anecdotal evidence isn't encyclopaedic. Potkettle 15:43, 5 June 2007 (UTC)
agreed. I'd leave it out til finding a reference. they can probably be found on pubmed. sallison 19:37, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Possible merger with sneeze Richardson j 00:09, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

I just wondering if its appropriate to merge this article whith the article labled as Template:Sneeze Richardson j 00:09, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Possible reasons...

There was talk of possible protective causes of this effect. Thinking about this, it occured to me that you cannot sneeze with your eyes open. Is it possible the sneeze is a way of making you shut your eyes and therefore shield them from the bright light bringing on the sneeze?? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 130.194.13.102 (talk) 07:29, 14 March 2007 (UTC).

hi ummmmm.... yea did you know that Photic Sneeze Reflex is also called the ACHOO syndrome? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.227.94.253 (talk) 18:07, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

All I know is that if I feel a sneeze coming on, I can induce it with any bright light, even a bright TV screen or monitor (or a 40W bulb at close range.) Sure, I sneeze a half a dozen times when going out into sunlight, but that's better than walking around with a sneeze stuck up your nostrils that won't quite come. Got it from my Mom and passed it on to my son. . . I should ask my sisters about it sometime: I think one of them has it as well.206.45.135.233 (talk) 21:37, 2 May 2008 (UTC)