Laboratory Study
Eye advance online publication 3 July 2009; doi: 10.1038/eye.2009.165
On light-induced sneezing
- 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
- 2Division of Technical Audiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
Correspondence: Dr D Hydén, Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden. Tel: +46 13 222000; Fax: +46 13 222504; E-mail: dag.hyden@lio.se
Received 9 February 2009; Revised 1 June 2009; Accepted 1 June 2009; Published online 3 July 2009.
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate whether the tickling inside the nose before a light-induced sneeze in susceptible individuals is correlated to a recordable local activity or not.
Methods
Seven healthy volunteers, three with a history of light-induced sneezing, were stimulated with stroboscopic light or a strong halogen lamp. Recording was done with an evoked potential averaging technique via intranasal electrodes placed in such a way that they substantially reduced the strong electrical response from the retina.
Results
Despite an adequate light stimulus, no reproducible electrical activity could be recorded from any of the members in any experiment.
Conclusion
Light-induced sneezing is presumably a central phenomenon. The electrical activity travels through the optic pathways straight to the trigeminal nucleus and the tickling is a referred sensation. A genetic variation in the distance between the optic pathways (colliculus superior) and the mesencephalic part of the trigeminal nucleus may explain why light-induced sneezing is more common in certain families and races.
Keywords:
light-induced sneezing (ACHOO-reflex), evoked potential averaging technique, central reflex, genetic variation
