Whether it is physical or psychological, human beings’ pursuit of “cool” is eternal. For “cool”, human beings have invented all kinds of treasures!
(Source: soogif)
“Don’t ask for help” is almost a must-have artifact in everyone’s home, right? It’s the picture below! Especially when it is used to scratch the back, it is called “giant cool”!
(Source: Internet)
Then the question is, why is scratching your back so comfortable?
There are many receptors on human skin. When the skin is allergic and dry, it will stimulate the itching receptors on the skin to send out itching signals. The itching signals are transmitted to the brain along the conduction pathway, and we produce itch and a strong desire to scratch [1].
The action of scratching will stimulate the pain and touch receptors in the same skin area. After the pain and touch receptors are activated, it will produce a “peripheral inhibition” effect, temporarily preventing the itching receptor from itch. signal[2].
At the same time, the brain will also secrete dopamine due to tickling, resulting in pleasant emotions [3].
In addition to the large area of skin on our back and the rich distribution of nerves and muscles, scratching can increase blood flow and relax muscles, which naturally makes us feel very comfortable.
But while scratching is comfortable, it doesn’t stop the itch, it makes us more itchy.
This is because the action of scratching increases the release of “itch-causing substances” and stimulates the transmission of the “itch-causing nerve”, This results in stronger itching and more scratching [2].
This is also the reason why the whole back started to itch after scratching it twice.
Similar to scratching the back, the “cool” produced by scratching the head is also perceived through skin receptors.
The head is rich in nerve endings and blood vessels. When the head is massaged with the “soul extractor”, the touch and pressure receptors on the scalp feel the “force” from the outside world, and the receptors will This “force” is transformed into an electrical signal that can be recognized by human nerves, which is further transmitted to the brain. The brain sends out “comfortable” instructions to produce the “happy factor” dopamine, and the human body will feel euphoric and pleasant [4].
In addition, massaging the head will also make people feel very comfortable, because the massage will put a certain amount of pressure on the muscles and blood vessels of the head, which can speed up the blood flow to a certain extent. to help people better relieve fatigue.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
The ear is anatomically divided into the inner ear, the middle ear, the outer ear, the outer ear is the ear that people usually see and consists of Consists of the pinna and the external auditory canal.
The scientific name for earwax is cerumum, which is secreted by the cerumen glands in the external auditory canal, usually only distributed in the external auditory canal[5], A small amount of earwax can prevent foreign objects from entering the ear, and too much earwax may affect hearing.
The subcutaneous tissue of the external auditory canal is very small, the nerves are widely distributed, and the sensation is sensitive [5].
When picking ears, the earwax close to the external auditory canal is “teared”. During the “tear” process, the sensitive external auditory canal tactile receptors are activated to generate electrical signals and transmit them to the brain. It will produce a feeling of “itching and comfortable”, and at the same time, the sound wave signal generated by “tear” is directly accepted by the inside of the ear, which reduces the process of sound wave abrasion in the air, and the sound we hear is amplified a lot. times.
(Source: soogif)
The shoulder and neck massager will not be shown, after all, there are all kinds ofThere are everything, let’s start with why the shoulders and neck are uncomfortable…
As a senior social animal, it is our daily life to work at a desk for a long time and look down at our mobile phones.
The shoulder and neck muscles that support the head have to bear huge pressure for this, and are in a “tense state” for a long time, and the nerves that control muscle contraction also suffer from aseptic inflammation due to “overwork”. Metabolites such as creatine are produced and “pain-causing signals” are released, which are transmitted to the brain along the nerves, making humans feel muscle soreness [6].
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
At this time, if you press the sore part, it will promote the “close contact” between the metabolites and the muscle and nerve, and we will have the feeling that the pain will intensify instantly. Pain will promote the pituitary gland to secrete a substance called endorphin. Endorphins can play a certain analgesic effect, and can also increase appetite and relieve anxiety [7], which is why the soreness of the shoulder and neck is accompanied by pain. Feel a little comfortable.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
The current massager on the market is similar to the mechanical massager. Both stimulate the nerves to cause regular muscle contraction and relaxation, produce metabolites, and promote the release of endorphins in the brain, which plays a similar role in massage. effect.
In general, these “sweet spots” are the result of receptors sensing external stimuli and nerves transmitting the stimuli to the brain. In this process, dopamine and endorphins play an important role [8], which is the key to making people feel happy and unable to resist addiction to these behaviors.
Humans rack their brains for happiness, we can’t live up to our own bodies, enjoy a comfortable life, and go “cool” to the fullest!
Reviewer: Gao Ping| Chief Physician, Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital
References
[1]Yang Yan, Tang Zongxiang. Research progress on itch signaling pathway and related receptors[J]. Advances in Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2013(03): 209-215.
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[2]Bai Haomiao, Liu Yan, Zhu Liuliu, et al. The regulatory mechanism of itch perception[J]. Journal of Neuroanatomy, 2020(06): 679-684.
[3] Liu Minggang, Hu Ji, Xu Tianle, et al. The processing of itch information by the midbrain reward center [J]. Science News, 2020(02): 90.
[4] Guo Zhengming. A preliminary study on the physiological mechanism of skin pressure receptors in massage massage[J]. Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2009(06): 86-87.
[5] “Practical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery” 2nd Edition [J]. Chinese Medical Abstracts (Otolaryngology), 2008(02): 109.
[6] Zhang Baoying, Ma Gaohong, Meng Xiangyue, Zhao Zixuan, Tan Yue, Su Yue. Etiological analysis of chronic lumbar muscle strain in different groups of people [J]. Everyone Health, 2020(09 ): 125-126.
[7]Ren Weihua, Huo Xiaofeng, Wu Ning, Wang Rui. Research progress of endomorphin[J]. Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin, 2001(01): 17-20.
[8] Wei Chaoxing, Zhang Ming, Kong Yazhuo. Similarities and differences in neural mechanisms of pain and itch: perception, conduction and regulation [J]. Science Bulletin, 2020(16): 1556-1568.< /p>
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