Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: The photic sneeze reflex (PSR) is a common but underexplored phenomenon where bright light triggers sneezing, affecting ~30% of the population. This study aimed to characterise the light conditions inducing PSR. Methods: One male PSR-affected participant logged sneezing events during a 30-day real-world light exposure study. An indoor setup using a multi-primary LED source and an integrating sphere delivered 30-second light stimuli while pupillometric data were collected. Results: A total of 82 sneezing events were recorded, averaging 2.73 sneezes/day (range: 1-6 per event). Illuminance increased tenfold before sneezing, peaking 2 minutes prior, and returned to baseline within 10 minutes. Despite exposure to 150+ stimuli, artificial sneezing was not induced, though high illuminance consistently triggered tickling sensations. Conclusions: Sudden increases in environmental lighting can provoke PSR. While artificial stimuli elicited only tickling, further refinement of the protocol could enable reliable PSR induction, thereby facilitating mechanistic research.
Source: F1000Research
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,350
Funders: City University of New York, Wellcome Trust, Max-Planck-Förderstiftung, European Commission, National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation Singapore, Daimler und Benz Stiftung, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Vetenskapsrådet, Bayerisch-Französisches Hochschulzentrum, Technische Universität München, Bayerische Forschungsallianz
OpenAlex ID: W4415282992