Why our skin gets goosebumps (and the explanation of 9 other reactions of the human body)

The human body is capable of reacting quickly and efficiently to many situations. In some, the reaction occurs through the activation of defense mechanisms; in others, as responses we acquire as the species evolves. Although some reactions are slightly uncomfortable, knowing a little more about them is a way to understand how the human body works.

O awesome.club chose some of the most common human body reactions and decided to check what science has already managed to explain about them.

It is common for people to blush when they are praised. Biologically speaking, what happens when a person blushes is that the veins in the face dilate, and with the increase in blood in the cheeks, the red color appears.

However, some psychologists suggest that this is a response we develop to avoid potential confrontation; that is, we show a visible discomfort that the other person recognizes as a sign that he should neither attack nor offend. This happens to several animals and is the typical behavior of those who want to avoid a fight; lions, for example, lie down and show their bellies when they want to avoid confrontation.

Experts say that when someone tickles us, the nerve endings in the skin send electrical signals to the somatosensory cortex of the brain, which is responsible for analyzing the pressure received. At the same time, another part of the same organ, in charge of feelings linked to pleasure, also analyzes these signals.

In addition to making the body laugh when someone tickles us, the hypothalamus alerts us to possible painful sensations. In this sense, research suggests that we evolved to activate a defense mechanism and to show a certain submissiveness that helps to defuse a tense situation.

Goose bumps are another type of automatic body reaction that experts say increases the chances of survival. In animals like the cat, for example, the reflex is a response to a threat and makes the cat look bigger.

On the other hand, what happens when the body gets goosebumps is that the muscle fiber connected to a hair follicle becomes tense, causing the surrounding tissue to pucker, pulling the connected hairs upward.

Part of the mechanisms the onion develops to defend itself against microbes and animals is what gives it its flavor, including a tear-producing factor that causes eye irritation.

When we cut an onion, it releases a gas that contains sulphur, and the brain reacts by sending a message to the lacrimal glands so that they produce tears, because the gas, when in contact with the water present in the eyes, decomposes into sulfuric acid. Therefore, tears help dilute the external agent and end up protecting the eyes.

One of the functions of the nose is to regulate the temperature of breathing so that the air entering through the nose has a temperature similar to that of the body. During the process of heating the air, moisture condenses and causes your nose to run.

According to one theory, the sudden headache that appears when we eat something cold is due to a change in blood flow in the nervous system that accompanies the body’s adaptation to a change in temperature. The vessels constrict to prevent heat loss and then relax, causing blood flow to increase, causing the headache.

According to some scientists, the skin on human fingers and toes wrinkles after being in water for a long time to provide a drainage network that improves handling of wet objects.

Scientists suggest that the involuntary reaction has an evolutionary function, as wrinkled fingers could have helped our ancestors gather food in wet conditions; in the case of the feet, this condition may have helped us to find a better balance in the rain.

When we sneeze, we expel air and foreign particles from our body. That is, closing our eyes can be an automatic behavior of our body to prevent these particles from entering the eyes. In addition, sneezing causes the body to have muscle contractions from the esophagus to the sphincter, also including the muscles that control the eyelids.

Fear of heights may be related to a high degree of vertigo caused by visual dependence on maintaining balance while standing. According to one theory, certain human processes, such as height perception, are also overrated by natural selection to help lower the risk of dangerous falls.

The feeling of being satisfied is not always related to food intake. According to Jessica Moya, nutritionist at the University of San Sebastián, psychological factors are the most important when it comes to wanting to eat. Among them, “the memories associated with food, the feelings related to food, and the people who accompany us or those who serve us” stand out.

The nutritionist also highlights the importance of thinking about hunger as a physiological need that “is perceived as a burning sensation in the stomach or a feeling of emptiness” that indicates that the body needs to replenish nutrients and energy. “Psychological hunger”, or appetite, on the other hand, is when we feel the need to eat a specific food even when we don’t feel hungry.

In addition, the specialist comments that to face uncontrolled appetite, the most recommended thing is to enjoy food, that is, to notice the smells, colors and textures. All this helps us to eat more slowly and therefore helps us to “have more control over our food intake”.

It’s impressive how our body has protective mechanisms that we are often unaware of. What other behaviors have you noticed in your body?