Kissing can overload your brain

22 March 2016 - 02:18 By © The Telegraph

It used to be thought that people closed their eyes while sharing a kiss because their vision could not focus on something as close as the other person's face. But scientists have rejected that theory, finding that the brain is unable to cope with the combination of the visual data and the tactile sensation of kissing.Psychologists at Royal Holloway University, in London, demonstrated that completing a demanding visual task reduces the ability to comprehend touch. That could explain why you can fail to notice your phone vibrating while looking for a friend's face in a crowd.It has more serious consequences for tactile warning systems for drivers or pilots. Tactile alerts being introduced in modern cars to warn drivers when they drift out of their lane could be missed, because the motorist's brain is being overwhelmed by the visual task at hand.The study, which did not involve people kissing, suggests that, to focus on a tactile sensation, people might instinctively close their eyes. ..

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