Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Ian Louw on 03/11/2011 03:01:03
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Ian Louw asked the Naked Scientists:
Why do you see stars when you bang your head?
What do you think?
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Perhaps mechanical stimulation of the nerves in the retinas? You can get a similar effect by pressing on your eyes (such as when you rub them). Or perhaps the physical trauma stimulates random activity directly in the optical region of the brain.
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The rapid acceleration (punch) or rapid deceleration (low roof beam) applies a force to the retina and optic nerves (and brain), even if thing delivering the “bang” did not touch the eyes. Applying force to the eye causes phosphenes ...
Another common phosphene is “seeing stars,” from a sneeze, a heavy and deep cough, blowing of the nose, a blow on the head or low blood pressure (such as on standing up too quickly or prior to fainting). It is possible these involve some mechanical stimulation of the retina, but they may also involve mechanical and metabolic stimulation of neurons of the visual cortex or of other parts of the visual system
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphene#Mechanical_stimulation
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The region of the brain that controls eyesight is in the back of your head, odd as that may seem. That's also why the back of your skull is called the occipital bone.
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The region of the brain that controls eyesight is in the back of your head, odd as that may seem. That's also why the back of your skull is called the occipital bone.
And I always thought it was called occipital because those pesky latin types called the back of the head the occiput