Feeling a 'zap' during eye contact

[onesteptwostep]

Has anyone experienced this before? I think it only happens with the opposite sex, but this 'zap' sensation when you make eye contact. It's somewhat like when cartoons, before they duke it out, have this zap coming out of their eyes, and etc.

Does this mean anything?

 

[Pizzabeak]

No.

 

[Jennywocky]

Yes.

Go see an eye doctor.

 

[Perfectly Normal Beast]

it's 'love', d'uh!

 

[onesteptwostep]

<3 or s2?

 

[Lot]

It's you being uncomfortable with making eye contact. Mostly because of what the aliens did to your eyes. The greys really like to taught with eye contact. So your subconscious is warning you that someone is looking you in the eyes, and you might get another radio put in you rib cage. It's pretty normal. The people above obviously have never been abducted.

For reals, it's probably nerves. I do sense a sensation when I make eye contact. It's not a zap, but I think I can understand what you're talking about. You don't look a lot of people in the eye when you talk to them, do you? Eye contact can be treated as a threat/challenge by the brain. You just need to expose yourself to eye contact with people, more.

 

[cheese]

Jolt of adrenaline from nervousness/excitement?

I've felt it a few times I think, with both sexes (don't think it's a matter of attraction necessarily). It sometimes feels like you've caught people 'exposed' for just that instant, without their social face on. There's an apparent shock on both sides of recognition and vulnerability as one person (or both) is seen raw. I figure what's happening is one is lost in thought and has their usual bitch-face shield off for just a bit (and perhaps whatever they're thinking/feeling is being unwittingly expressed on their face). Most of the time people have their defenses up and meeting a stranger's eyes is no big deal as they're prepared. But on these rare occasions they're mentally the equivalent of slouching around pantsless at home.

 

[onesteptwostep]

It's literally a zap, I'm not kidding here. It feels as if it's in the air, between her eyes and mine.

Jolt of adrenaline from nervousness/excitement?

I think it could be this..

But no, it's someone whom I'm actually somewhat close with, there isn't much awkwardness in there.

This was a couple of months ago though, I just remembered having this experience for some reason.

 

[cheese]

Did she feel it too?

Could it be a neurological hiccup on your end which you associated with her because she happened to be there?

 

[Minuend]

Perhaps there is some common factor in aspects of how you think? You were both in a similar mindset at that moment, picked up on it and knew you picked up on it (which might also mix vulnerability into it like cheese said), which gave an intense feeling?

Like you were two of a kind, sharing a mental experience. I guess getting the impression she was of mind even if she wasn't could still give the feel.

I was thinking about something similar a few weeks ago, but it was about how some people feel familiar, like you've known them for a long time, even when you haven't. I think recognizing aspects of the other person's cognition might be part of it. One doesn't necessarily agree on everything or think alike, but there are some similarity in how one structure one's thoughts, which is sometimes enough to leave a sense of familiarity. It can feel like you recognize your own kind, so to speak, in a way that can be very personal and intimate. (Though, there can still be large gaps of difference in personality).

------------------------

I don't think my explanation was clear, so I'll just edit this in:

Spoiler

Similar sentiments and beliefs are not the essence of what I meant. The way one structure one's thoughts, mindstates or the atmosphere of the mind is. I tried illustrating what I mean:

Spoiler

Let's say two people think about how lonely they are. In the upper image, you have two people thinking about loneliness. As you can see, their thought processes and emotions are different, but they are both thinking about the same thing.

In the lower image, you have two who might be very different, but then they at the same time think and feel about loneliness the same way. This could be a snapshot, a moment of 2 seconds of thinking. If the look at each other, they might be able to recognize it in each other.

(This is simplified to illustrate).

To experience the zap you probably need another ingredient, though. Vulnerability is a factor that trigger a feeling that can be quite intense if it feels intimate. If one rarely find someone to share this experience with, that can make the moment more precious. So can attraction. Or already considering someone a friend and then experience a moment like this to treasure. How you think probably also influences it. Not everyone would have an intense experience even if they did recognize something like this.

 

[Brontosaurie]

I like your thinking on this one cheese

 

[onesteptwostep]

@Minuend

Yes, we share similar sentiments and beliefs. However the confusing aspect of this is that there could be a cultural misunderstanding as well. Relationships in East Asian countries are already outlined to some degree, though that paradigm is changing.

I suppose I could ask but.. but yes, I'm thinking of asking when I get around to it :3

Could it be a neurological hiccup on your end which you associated with her because she happened to be there?

It wasn't merely her presenence, it was a contact that was sentimentally charged, and to be exact, it somewhat of a prolonged eye contact. I distinctly remember the pupils dilating as if energy was being expended.

So going back to the OP, I was just wondering if anyone's had the same or a similar experience.

 

[TheAdditional1]

Not a zap but a lurch. A lot of "oh shit" moments sometimes. But if I'm in the mood and the other person seems *relatively* meek enough I'll hold it until they look away. Sometimes if there's a baddie (bad girl, aka hot girl) at the mall and I'm looking good enough, then I'll hold the stare with just a hint of a smile in my eyes just so we can both get the thrill of knowing we were into each other but couldn't follow up. Like a wordless romance (adult) novel in an instant.