Why Do Bad Smells Sometimes Trigger the Gag Reflex?

Question

Why Do Bad Smells Sometimes Trigger the Gag Reflex?

In: 13

Answer 1

Gagging is performed to prevent unwanted/dangerous substances from entering the body.

Bad smells can trigger the gag reflex because they may be associated with the presence of a harmful substance. The brain may interpret the smell as a sign that something dangerous is nearby, and the gag reflex is activated as a protective mechanism.

In some cases, the gag reflex may be triggered by a strong or unpleasant smell even if the substance itself is not harmful. For example, when I clean the dishes I tend to gag profusely because I am very sensitive to other peoples food. My brain is convinced that the peanut butter on someone else’s plate is contaminated/gross because it’s wet and soggy. Although it only smells like regular peanut butter, my brain interprets it as “dangerous” or unpleasant.