Contagious Itch
Events of "contagious itch" are very common occurrences. Even a discussion on the topic of itch can give one the desire to scratch. Itch is likely to be more than a localized phenomenon in the place we scratch. Results from a recent study showed that itching and scratching were induced purely by visual stimuli in a public lecture on itching. There is currently little detailed data on central activation for contagious itching but it is hypothesized that a human mirror neuron system exists in which we imitate certain motor actions when we view others performing the same action. A similar phenomenon in which mirror neurons are used to explain the cause is contagious yawning.
Read more about this topic: Itch, Sensations Associated With Scratching
Famous quotes containing the words contagious and/or itch:
“Some follies are caught, like contagious diseases.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“Grandpa: Penny, why don’t you write a play about ism-mania?
Penny: Ism-mania?
Grandpa: Yeah, sure. You know, communism, fascism, voodooism. Everybody’s got an ism these days.
Penny: It sounds like an itch or something.
Grandpa: It’s just as catching. When things go a little bad these days, you go out and get yourself an ism and you’re in business.”
—Robert Riskin (1897–1955)