The Science Of Kissing: Why Do We Kiss With Our Eyes Closed

According to Ingrid Bergman, a kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. But, have you ever wondered why do we kiss with our eyes closed? And now you are recalling all those special moments. Right? Do you have an answer?

What most of you presume is that keeping eyes open while kissing might put off your amorous partner.

But, psychologists reveal that kissing with our eyes closed allows brains to properly focus on the task in hand.

According to a new study on human senses published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, the awareness of our sense of touch depends on the level of perceptual load at the time – that is, how much information our eyes are having to take in for our brains to process. In short, when you close your eyes, it amplifies the sense of touch.

It is difficult for our brain to concentrate on two different senses at the same time. So people have assumed that we close our eyes during kissing in order to focus on the task at hand. And that our brain cannot concentrate on another sense while also concentrating on the visual stimuli.

However, the problem with the research is that the conclusion was made without studying couples kissing. No doubt this research has got broader implications.

The participants of the study were allocated various visual tasks, and their sense of touch or say tactile sense was measured at the same time.

While the participants were busy completing letter-searching tasks of varying difficulty, their visual sense was measured. And to measure the tactile sense, the participants had to respond to small vibrations applied to one of their hands.

Whenever eyes did more work to finish the difficult tasks, the participants were less responsive to the tactile sense that is awareness of the vibrations.

The analysis suggests that our sense of touch decreases with an increase in work done by our eyes.

The study results partly explain why we kiss with our eyes closed. In Dr. Polly Dalton’s (a senior lecturer in cognitive psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London) words, we want to focus on the touch on our lips.

“Shutting out the visual input leaves more mental resources to focus on other aspects of our experience.” She added.

Also, when people engage in other pleasurable activities like sex and dancing, people focus on the sense of touch rather than any other potentially distracting, sensory experiences.

The prime focus of the research was on the tactile sense because there is increasing use of tactile information in the warning systems. We know of cars providing us with tactile alerts which are mainly vibrations to alert you to danger.

Now, that is pretty useful when you are drifting across lanes. But, if a driver is intensely looking for directions at a busy junction. With such demanding visual tasks, the driver could reduce noticing visual and auditory stimuli. So, the warnings may go unnoticed.

What do you think?

Interesting, Science

kiss, romance

6 Meaningful Lessons From Emily In Paris!

1. Learning A New Language Can Change Your Life

Do you recall the time Emily arrived in Paris

READ FULL ARTICLE ⇲

Up Next

Ways To Receive Spiritual Guidance Straight From The Universe

“I have no idea what to do.”

“I am so confused.”

Does life ever feel like a maze with no clear exit? I wish I could hand you a map, but unfortunately, it doesn’t exist. However, there’s a powerful tool you can use when you find yourself at a crossroads – tuning in to receive spiritual guidance from the Universe. But how to receive spiritual guidance?

The signs from the universe aren’t always flashy or obvious—they can be as subtle as a whisper, a gut feeling, or a seemingly random encounter that sticks with you. But how do you seek spiritual guidance from the universe?

In this guide, we’ll explore how you can open yourself up to receiving this spiritual guidance from the Universe. But first let’s understand what

READ FULL ARTICLE ⇲

Up Next

11. That’s how many life-changing eras Taylor Swift has given us. And chances are there is a Taylor Swift album for every stage of your life. But have you ever wondered which era defines you the best, the one that screams ‘you.’ Well, since you clicked on this Taylor Swift album quiz, it sounds like you’re ready to find out