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by Bryan Johnson
It doesn�t matter what the color of your skin is or where you were born. It doesn�t
matter if you�re rich, poor, young, elderly, sick, healthy, or unique. Everyone in
the world holds an inherent set of instinctive behaviors. Some of the behaviors
include a collection of reflexes. Scientists continue to examine the purpose of
these instincts and develop hypotheses on their function. Many of the instincts
remain an evolutionary mystery. For this article I have focused on reflexes in
adults and left out the common primitive reflexes.
10
Post-Micturition Convulsion Syndrome
Sofitel-Urinals
Scientists have speculated that the phenomenon could be related to the fact that
people experience a drop in blood pressure following urination. Others have
suggested that it may be a reaction to the loss of several ounces of warm fluid.
Most intellectuals point to the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic
system is responsible for stimulation of activities that occur when the body is at
rest, including sexual arousal, salivation, lacrimation (tears), urination,
digestion, and defecation. However, the explanation doesn�t consider the fact that
the phenomenon is only experienced by a percentage of the world population.
Comedian George Carlin examined the topic: �pee shivers date back to pre-
civilization days when men hadn�t learned to do their own shaking.�
Interesting Fact: Pee shivers shouldn�t be confused with micturition syncope, which
is a feeling of faintness following urination. During the phenomenon people become
pale, nauseated, and sweaty before losing consciousness. Micturition syncope is
responsible for 2.4 to 8.4 percent of all fainting by adults. In many cases it
occurs after the individual has been sleeping for a long period of time. Some
people have reported dizziness and a loss of balance while urinating at night, but
not a complete loss of consciousness.
9
Prisoner�s Cinema
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The Prisoner�s Cinema is a phenomenon reported by people kept in total darkness,
especially prisoners confined to dark cells for a long period of time. The
sensation has been reported by truck drivers, pilots, and practitioners of intense
meditation. Astronauts have also experienced a similar occurrence in space. The
light show usually includes various colors and appears out of total darkness. The
lights are said to have a succinct form, which is difficult to describe. The lights
often transform into human form. Scientists believe the cinema is a result of
phosphenes combined with the psychological effects of prolonged exposure to
darkness.
Interesting Fact: The Ganzfeld effect is a similar phenomenon that has been
reported for hundreds of years. It occurs when someone experiences a sudden loss of
vision or hallucinations after staring at a uniform field of color, not just black.
Arctic explorers who saw nothing but white snow for a long period of time also
reported hallucinations and an altered state of mind. The Ganzfeld effect is the
result of the brain amplifying neural noise in order to look for the missing visual
signals. Many feel it is similar to dream production because of the brain�s state
of sensory deprivation during sleep.
8
Knismesis and Gargalesis
Tickling is the act of touching a part of the body to induce involuntary twitching
and laughter. Knismesis and gargalesis are the scientific terms used to describe
the two types of tickling. In 1897, the terms were coined by psychologists G.
Stanley Hall and Arthur Allin. In a general sense, knismesis is the light, feather-
like type of tickling that doesn�t induce laughter in humans. This type of tickling
is often accompanied by an itching sensation. Knismesis requires a low level of
stimulation and can be triggered by a touch or electrical current. Knismesis can
also be triggered by crawling insects, which will prompt the individual to scratch
the area.
7
Blushing
G-Htl-110422-Bodyodd-Blushing
During the process of blushing, the person�s sympathetic nervous system will cause
the blood vessels to open wide, flooding the skin with blood, and resulting in a
reddening of the face. In some people, the ears, neck, and upper chest may also
blush. The reaction will also cause the person�s face to feel hot. Several
different psychological mechanisms for blushing have been hypothesized. In 2010,
Crozier published a paper that suggested blushing was a visible rebound to the
basic fight/flight mechanism found in humans. Charles Darwin was intrigued by
blushing and described it as �the most peculiar and human of all expressions.�
6
Refractory Period
Rb-Insomnia-De-Large New
In human sexuality, the refractory period is the recovery phase after an orgasm
during which it is impossible to achieve additional orgasms. Most men are unable to
maintain or achieve an erection during this time. The penis may also be
hypersensitive and stimulation may feel painful or uncomfortable. The effect has
been linked to the hormone oxytocin and the protein prolactin. The length of the
refractory period varies across species, ranging from a couple minutes to days. In
contrast to men, most women do not experience a refractory period immediately after
orgasm. However, some women have reported the phenomenon. According to studies, a
20 year-old has a refractory period of about 15 minutes, while people in their 70s
take about 20 hours.
Cold-Chills
Interesting Fact: Goose bumps appear on a person�s skin when it is cold out or they
experience a strong emotional reaction such as fear, nostalgia, pleasure, awe,
admiration, or sexual arousal. Goose bumps are created when tiny muscles at the
base of each hair contract and pull the hair erect. In animals covered with fur or
hair, the erect hairs trap air and create a layer of insulation. Goose bumps can
also appear as a response to anger or fear. The erect hairs make the animal appear
larger, in order to intimidate enemies.
4
Emotional Contagion
Hitler-Jugend
Emotional contagion is the tendency for humans to feel the emotions of people
around them. It appears to be involved with mob psychology and related to the
bandwagon effect. The bandwagon effect is a well documented form of groupthink. It
says that human conduct spreads among people in a similar way as fads and trends.
As more people come to believe in something, others �hop on the bandwagon.� The
idea of emotional contagion is clearly evident in human children. For example, if a
parent is sad, the child will often notice and react with crying.
3
Yawning
Yawning
A yawn is a natural human reflex. It involves the inhalation of air, stretching of
the eardrums, and is followed by a large exhalation of breath. Yawning is
associated with tiredness, stress, lack of stimulation, and boredom. It is one of
the most bizarre human functions. Yawning can be infectious and is triggered by
seeing others yawn, hearing a yawn, or talking on the phone with someone who is
yawning. A number of theories have been proposed that attempt to explain why
animals yawn, but nothing has been substantiated. One theory states that yawning
occurs when a person�s blood contains an increased amount of carbon dioxide and
needs oxygen. However, other studies show that yawning decreases oxygen intake.
2
Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex
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Did you ever wonder how humans are able to move their heads from left to right and
still focus on visual images? The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is a human reflex
movement that stabilizes images on the retina. It accomplishes this by producing a
rapid eye movement in the direction opposite to the head movement. For example,
when the human head moves to the right, the eyes move to the left, and vice versa.
The VOR is vital because people are constantly making small head movements.
Individuals who have an impaired VOR usually can�t read because small head
movements blur the image.
The VOR works in total darkness and when the eyes are closed. The reflex is one of
the fastest in the human body. It has been estimated that the eye movements lag the
head movements by less than 10 milliseconds. Today, the VOR can be tested by
doctors with the caloric reflex test, which involves injecting cold water, warm
water, or air into the ear. When you inject water into the ear, the VOR is
automatically triggered. A healthy cerebellum is also essential to the VOR in order
to ensure accurate eye movements. People who experience brain damage to the
cerebellum often have complicated problems with visual comprehension.
Interesting Fact: Did you ever wonder why you shouldn�t drink and drive? Ethanol
(alcohol) consumption can disrupt the VOR, greatly reducing your ability to see.
The more intoxicated you become the more blurry your vision is.
1
Mammalian Diving Reflex
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The mammalian diving reflex allows people to stay underwater for extended periods
of time. It is exhibited strongly in aquatic mammals, but also in humans. The
diving reflex is triggered specifically when cold water contacts the face. Water
that is warmer than 21�C (70�F) does not cause the reflex, and neither does
submersion of body parts other than the face. As soon as the face hits cold water,
the diving reflex is triggered in an attempt to maximize oxygen output. The human
heart rate slows down by 10-25% and blood flow is constricted to the extremities.
At extreme depths, the body intentionally allows fluid to fill the lungs and chest
cavity to prevent organs from being crushed by pressure.
The mammalian diving reflex greatly increases the odds of survival during
accidental submersion. It helps prevent drowning in humans and even works if the
individual is unconscious before entering the water. Because of the reflex, a
person can survive longer periods of time without oxygen in cold water than on dry
land or in hot water. Another interesting fact is that the diving reflex lessens
with adulthood. Children are more likely to survive extended periods of time in
cold water. The reflex is particularly strong in seals, otters, and dolphins, which
are mammals that spend a lot of time in the water. It remains unclear if the diving
reflex occurs in extreme cold weather outside water.
Interesting Fact: The mammalian diving reflex has caused some to examine the
aquatic ape hypothesis, which says that the common ancestors of modern humans spent
time adapting to life underwater. The hypothesis is based on the differences
between humans and other great apes, and similarities between humans and some
aquatic mammals. The theory uses many human functions to support the claims
including hair loss, hair location, the subcutaneous fat on babies, the descended
larynx, the hooded nose, voluntary breath control, the waxy coating on newborns,
and the mammalian diving reflex.