the word

[kip_w]

.

But the winner, sent in by Sandra Kiume, is truly lovely ACHOO syndrome: Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst syndrome). It's the condition where sunlight causes sneezing.

(from mind_hacks post on awkward acronyms in cognitive science winners"

At last, I have a name I can put on it. jonsinger and I have always called this sun-sneezing (or, being a sun sneezer). I've been aware that the attempt my helplessly watering eyes always make to escape my head during the segment of eye exams where they're pumping as much candlepower as a small follow spot into my eyes while asking me to focus on something is called the "dazzle reflex." Now I can learn and mnemorize Autosomal Dominant [but we'll just pretend that one's not there] Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst syndrome.

Neat.
.

Comments

[ckd]

I've always heard it called "photic sneezing" or the "photic sneeze reflex".

[davidgoldfarb.livejournal.com]

Same here. I recall seeing an article concluding that photic sneezing doesn't make airplane pilots notably less safe. (Which will be a comfort to me if ever I decide to take up flying planes.)

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

That does sound familiar, though I couldn't summon it up. Might be easier to remember, at that.

[asimovberlioz.livejournal.com]

I'm one o' them there sneezers.

I also used to be possessed of a decidedly odd trait, back (20+ years ago) when I was working at the HQ of Target Stores in Minneapolis. My supervisor pointed out to me that every day, at three o'clock, I would sneeze three times. I hadn't before realized this.

Just remember, whatever you do, don't lesnerize.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

You're going to mnemorize, huh? Think this is increasing because cool kids stay inside and don't see the sun often?

[meggins.livejournal.com]

I didn't know sunlight could trigger a sneeze reaction. I wonder if this is why I sneeze in the morning when I first get up.