Eli5: why is it that when you start thinking about breathing or blinking you have to do it manually?

Question

I’ve also heard of something similar where if you focus on your tongue you feel like there isn’t a comfortable place for it in your mouth, is there an explanation for that too?

In: 21

Answer 1

Because it’s a subconscious reflex from the CNS but as soon as you think about it you make it conscious by getting your brain involved intentionally/unintentionally. It’s like insomnia, if you find a way to stop thinking about sleep it comes – if you stop thinking about breathing or blinking, they come