alywindows3

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Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex in c/science@lemmy.world
[–] alywindows3@feddit.org 2 points 58 minutes ago

All 7 peer-reviewed PubMed/DOI papers (including Wilder-Smith, Lewis & Pickering 1936, Changizi 2011, and Kareklas 2013) are linked in the References section at the bottom of the article!

Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex in c/science@lemmy.world
[–] alywindows3@feddit.org 2 points 2 hours ago

Fair point, my sincere apologies to the scrotum skin community haha.

Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex in c/science@lemmy.world
[–] alywindows3@feddit.org 5 points 2 hours ago

The PubMed paper you linked actually explains the exact same mechanism stated in the post—vasoconstriction and vasomotor firing driven by the sympathetic nervous system, rather than passive osmotic swelling.

Appreciate you linking the Wilder-Smith review though, it’s a great addition for anyone wanting the deeper clinical neurophysiology.

Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex in c/science@lemmy.world
[–] alywindows3@feddit.org 6 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Lmao, new evolutionary hypothesis unlocked! Thankfully the actual biology is slightly more dignified than that haha.

Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex in c/science@lemmy.world
[–] alywindows3@feddit.org 6 points 4 hours ago

Haha, unfortunately it's strictly controlled by the autonomic nervous system (same system as goosebumps and pupil dilation), so voluntary control is locked out. Would make a wild party trick though!

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Pruney fingers in water aren't caused by skin absorbing water—it's an active nervous system reflex (www.oddlyclear.com)
 

Common myth: skin wrinkles in water because of osmosis/swelling.

Reality: it is an active, involuntary vasomotor response. The nervous system constricts blood vessels under the skin to form ridges—acting like tire treads to channel away water and improve grip on wet objects. Patients with severed median nerves don't wrinkle at all.

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TIL the "lump in your throat" before crying (globus sensation) isn't swelling — it happens because your fight-or-flight system forces your vocal cords wide open for oxygen while you try to swallow (www.oddlyclear.com)