Do my eyes see something coming (reflexes can’t be that fast right?) or does it hit my eyelashes or something (still fast reflexes??)?
In: Biology
Thank you! I guess I’ve been underestimating my reflexes
Thank you! This makes sense!
The same way you might flinch if something was coming your way, your brain can react before you consciously think to react. Reflexes can indeed be that fast, especially the blink reflex – merely a fraction of a second.
With that said, your eyelashes are meant to protect your eyes and can likewise signal to protect your eyeballs if they come into contact with something unanticipated, much like the way nose hairs are meant to protect your nasal passage but getting past that first line of defense could lead to a sneeze reflex.
Someone else will have to add the scientific terminology because it completely escapes me right now. Anyway, our brains are specifically wired so that if we notice something that our unconscious brain perceives as potential threat, like a fast moving and/or large object, a possible predator, or something small headed right for an eyeball, the involuntary/unconscious parts of our brains will actually bypass the thinking centers of the brain and send commands directly to the movement and fight-or-flight sections.
This is what allows reflexes to work so suddenly and quickly, and why sometimes, people will react to a perceived threat and have absolutely no idea what happened. It’s because their brain bypassed anything that required understanding or thought in order to save time and increase the chance to survive.
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