Why we not sneeze while sleeping??

God Bless You!!!!!!

These are words automatically comes out when someone sneezes. But have you ever wondered why we don’t sneeze while sleeping.

When one sneezes the signs are unstoppable: the eyes waters, nose twitches, suspense builds… until finally a sneeze blasts forth, concluding the drama.

A sneeze expels air forcibly from the mouth and nose in an explosive manner usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa. Sneezing is possibly linked to sudden exposure to bright light, sudden change (fall) in temperature, breeze of cold air etc.

The function of sneezing is to expel mucus containing foreign particles or irritants and cleanse the nasal cavity.
Sneezing cannot occur during sleep due to REM atonia Rapid eye movement sleep - A bodily state wherein motor neurons are not stimulated and reflex signals are not relayed to the brain. Disturbances from friends, however, may cause one to wake from their sleep for the purpose of sneezing, although any sneezing occurring afterwards would take place with a partially awake status at minimum.

However, since there is little airflow in most bedrooms at night (preconditioned you clean your room regularly), and little movement to stir up dust and other particles, the nose is not bombarded by as many foreign particles as it is during the day.

Furthermore, the area of the brain responsible for the sneeze reflex relaxes while we sleep. So, even when a particle does touch the nose lining, the brain doesn't notice, and we don’t sneeze.

By:
Akshay Ratnawat,
Delhi University,
New Delhi.