Secret Words

You must have come across the irritating sound resulting from a sharp object scratching another rough surface. Ever wondered what it is called? Finger nails scraping a blackboard It is called 'Grima' Although it is not yet included in standard English, mostly Spanish speakers call it so, when they hear this unpleasant sound, resulting from a chalk or nails scratching against a blackboard, a fork scratching a plate, nails scratching a wall etc. Psychologists say, it should be considered distinct from other emotions. It is seen that some people can bear this sound to some extent whereas some can't bear it even for a second. What Spanish speakers mean by 'Grima' is, an unpleasant sensation, shivering and repulsion. Stimuli that draws it out , includes squeaking noises of doors, scratching with fingernails on surfaces etc. It   is rated as less pleasant than disgust. It is also seen that people get a sensation of itchy skin and goosebumps in such cases. Research: Over ...

Ever felt like squeezing after seeing something cute? let's know what it is called and why it happens. It's called 'Cute aggression' Cute aggression Cute aggression is an emotion a person feels when an extremely positive experience creates a reaction that's paired with a negative emotion. Sometimes, just appreciating or showing verbal affection to a cute puppy, kitten, cub or even a human child is not enough for people, that cuteness is so overwhelming that they naturally feel like squeezing , to satisfy their impulse. Researchers say that there is an activity in the neural system in the brain of people who admit that they feel overwhelmed by seeing a cute animal or a baby, which triggers people into feeling a profound deserve to take care of that little one and even bite it sometimes. Cute aggression Emotion regulation: When presented with a 'cute' stimulus, our natural response is often positive which is linked to activity within the hippocampus located i...

You must have, many a time, knowingly or unknowingly ignored people with or around you, just to be on your phone. Have you ever thought if this very behaviour has a name? No..? Well, it's called Phubbing. Phubbing It's basically a portmanteau, coined from a combination of the words 'Phone' and 'Snubbing' , which means 'to ignore' . Phubbing might not be a part of your daily vocabulary, but it certainly is a part of your daily life in today's world. You could just think, how many times we pull out our phone, pausing a real conversation with someone after hearing a notification bell and then get lost in the social media universe, ending up phubbing the person we were in a conversation with. Effects: This behaviour might  seem to be relatively harmless but researchers say, it might affect your relationship to a great extent, at a psychological level. It's an irony that on one hand, phones and social media are supposed to be used to connect people...

You must have noticed a wing-like structure fitted at the back of a car, shown in the image below. Ever wondered what that is called?  Techies / Mechies must be well aware of it, but the non-technical folks deserve to know about this, too. This article is about 'Spoiler' , the wing-like structure fitted at the back of any vehicle. You'll get to know why it is used and how it works. Now a days, many people merely get it fitted on their cars to just make it look sporty, but it only works if the manufacturer fits it after doing research and development, performing several tests. A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose work is to 'spoil' the unwanted air flow across the body of an automobile in motion, known as 'drag' - the resistance by air, flowing opposite to the direction of the motion of the vehicle . Spoliers are usually fitted to the race or high performance sports cars. However, now a days, many automobile companies design passenger vehicles ...

Ever ran into the abnormally sweet feeling of kissing someone..? This little article is about the sudden compulsive feeling of kissing. Although, the reason for the very feeling, 'Basorexia' , varies from person to person, it happens with all of us, at some point of time in our lives, unless one happens to be asexual. It, mostly, is too quick or inexplicable for the person to actually get in depth and think over the feeling, he/she has experienced. Hence, it just hits you and vanishes in no time. Basorexia shouldn't be mistaken for libido, it's purely an overwhelming urge or a strange craving for a kiss. As long as you continue to feel that urge, you are said to have Basorexia , but you happen to come out of the strange sweet feeling as soon as you get into a kiss. One, while experiencing it, typically has the urge to kiss sensually on the lips, cheeks or neck. It usually comes when the other person does something really likeable, pleasant or funny; especially, when i...

Ever experienced numbness in your arms or legs with no serious physical cause? ..You sure did! This article is about the abnormal, tingling, prickling sensation called 'Paresthesia' , mostly in your arms and legs that you often get after being in a position with your arms or legs pressed, for a long time. Numbness in feet Paresthesia is usually painless and can take place anywhere in the body, but most commonly felt in arms and legs. The most familiar kind of Paresthesia is the sensation known as 'pins and needles' after having a limb 'fall asleep'. Another unfamiliar and uncommon type of it, is Formication - the sensation of insects crawling underneath your skin. Etymology: The word Paresthesia is derived from the Greek word 'para' meaning 'abnormal', and 'aisthesia' meaning 'sensation'. Causes: Paresthesia of the hands, feet and legs are common transient symptoms. The shortest, electric shock type of paresthesia can be c...

Ever encountered a strange musty, sweet smell when it rains after a prolonged warm, dry weather? This article is about the pleasant earthy scent, called 'Petrichor', produced when rain hits dry soil. It is derived from the Greek word 'Petra' which means 'Rock', and 'Ichor' which means the fluid, as blood of God. The strange, sweet fragrance of Petrichor after rain. Origine: This phenomenon was scientifically described for the first time in the year 1964 by Austrailian researchers, Isabel Bear and Dick thomas. Thomas coined the term 'Petrichor' to refer to, what earlier was known as 'argillaceous odour'. The authors also described in an article how the fragrance derives from an oil released by some plants during droughts, where it is soaked by rocks and soils. When it rains, the oil is let out to the air along with 'geosmin', a metabolic by-product of some actinobacteria, which is released by wet soil, producing this distinct sce...

Have you ever wondered, what are those worm-like shapes, magically floating in front of your eyes, after you wake up in the morning and rub your eyes? This article is about the sensation of worm or ring-like shapes we get on our eye balls. Phosphenes Phosphenes in Eyes 'Phosphenes in eyes' is the phenomenon of seeing light without light actually entering the eye. The word phosphene comes from the Greek words 'phos' which means 'light', and 'phainein' which means 'to show'. Phosphenes that are induced by the movement or sound may be associated with Optic neuritis in Medical science .  Primary Causes : The most common Phosphenes are 'pressure phosphenes', caused by rubbing or applying pressure on or near the closed eyes. They have been known since the Classical era and described by the Greeks. Rubbing closed eyes, causing Phosphenes in Eyes Other commonly found Phosphene are 'seeing stars' from a sneeze. laughter, a heavy and deep c...