As I have a strong gag reflex there is a problem with some dental procedures. When my dentist took a cast some time ago his assistant rubbed the tip of my nose while the cast hardened, and my subjective impression was that it helped.
Are there studies showing that rubbing the tip of one’s nose helps? If so, is it only a psychological effect (distraction) or a neurological one? Is the effect the same when the rubbee is also the rubber? (With tickling it’s not the same as we all know.)
It’s an evolved trait. Extranasal contact is how your nervous system tells the difference between deep fellatio and errant fruit.
[/got nothing]
There was a discussion awhile ago on a similar phenomenon, only it was the rubbing of the temples:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=285254&highlight=rubbing+temples
/me blinks.
I have to use that the next time I’m at a boring party held by the anthro department.
[OT] Scratching slightly north of the tip of my nose causes me to sneeze… And it feels Gooood[/OT]
I am just scratching my head…
Little off topic- my mom would get nauseous years ago and would always rub the skin flap between the thumb and index finger. She read in some Prevention magazine or somewhere that it helps. Any idea if that’s factual?
That spot corresponds to an acupuncture / acupressure point for easing nausea.