# Bright lights and sneezing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-lights-and-sneezing/98362>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 14, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-lights-and-sneezing/98362 "2002-03-14T23:22:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sisenor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sisenor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisenor)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-lights-and-sneezing/98362/1 "2002-03-14T23:22:31Z")

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I’m sure this has been answered before, but why does looking at a bright light help a hessitant sneeze?

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-lights-and-sneezing/98362/2 "2002-03-14T23:39:13Z")

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[Cecil’s take on the matter](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_303.html).

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-lights-and-sneezing/98362/3 "2002-03-15T00:10:02Z")

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Do a search for “photonic sneeze reflex” for previous threads on the subject, as well.