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Article: What's up doc?
- Article from:
- Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication
- Article date:
- September 1, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Weekly Reader Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Q Why do people cry?
--Mallory L., Wisconsin
A In biological terms, crying bouts are known as psychogenic lacrimation. Eyes also make basal tears, which constantly spread around the eye to keep it from drying out, and reflex tears, which pour out when something irritates the eye (an object, a gas, or simply dust).
Since ancient times, females have often been given more latitude than males to let out their feelings with tears. Research suggests that the link may be more than societal, though. Boys and girls cry roughly equally until age 12, but then hormones appear to affect crying patterns, according to scientists. Increased levels of prolactin ...