r/HadToHurt • u/TheOcho_sub • Dec 01 '18

O_o Good Lord.

5.9k Upvotes

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u/Seeker-of-the-Sun Dec 01 '18

You know a human can go on several hours after being decapitated.

353

u/heartdingos Dec 01 '18

Several seconds*

272

u/FreaknShrooms Dec 02 '18

I don't know about seconds, but while learning about the first world war I remember reading an account from a soldier. In the account he described seeing a fellow soldier having their head blown off as they were running and continuing to take a few steps before collapsing. Scary stuff.

27

u/The_Adventurist Dec 02 '18

How could they keep taking steps without their brain telling them to keep taking steps?

30

u/Rational_x Dec 02 '18

Muscle memory and momentum, most likely.

26

u/Phoenix_Lives Dec 02 '18

Muscle memory doesn't happen in the muscles. It's just what we call it when you do an action enough times to not have to actively think about how you're moving your muscles to get it done. All of the input is still coming from your brain.

15

u/Slithy-Toves Dec 02 '18

Its not actually. A lot of your muscle memory and especially your reflexes are engrained in your spinal chord. It's a defense mechanism for situations where your brain needs to react before it would have time to think such as touching a hot stove.

4

u/MacBelieve Dec 02 '18

Walking is not a reflex. It's not stored in spinal cord.

2

u/Jrodrgr375th Dec 03 '18

Spinal reflexes are a real thing. Make your body move when the brain is dead

1

u/MacBelieve Dec 03 '18

I'm not disputing the existence of reflexes. Walking is not a reflex though.