A specific example of different neural wiring? Musing again....

As many as 40 years ago, I noticed that sometimes, when my cat looked at me, I would get an inexplicable sensation in my lower jaw. It was like a brief ache - not very pleasant. And it would *only* happen when my cat looked at me.

Of course, anyone I've told about this has reacted with incredulity and no offer of explanation.

I had forgotten about this until recently when we got a new puppy - and it happened again.

I can't help wondering if the wiring in my brain that "should" trigger a rush of endorphins, producing a "happy"/"bonding" feeling (oxytocin?) is actually wired to something that makes my jaw ache!

Which leads me to muse about all of the oxytocin I'm missing out on :-).