Ever wondered why your eyelids shut you lean in for a smooch? Apparently it’s all science. According to research at the University of London, the answer is simple. It’s all because your brain can process tactile sensations better when you don’t have any visual stimuli competing for attention. Ultimately, the research, conducted by Dr. Sandra Murphy and Dr. Polly Dalton finds that completing a demanding visual task reduces people's ability to sense touch. The research proves a plethora of things. It explains why you might not notice your phone vibrating if you are looking for a friend’s face in a crowded place. Or, shockingly, why you might be more susceptible to pickpocketing when you are searching a complicated departures board for details of your train. “It was already known that increasing the demands of a visual task could reduce noticing of visual and auditory stimuli.” says Dr. Sandra Murphy. “Our research extends this finding to the sense of touch. This is particularly important given the growing use of tactile information in warning systems. For example, some cars now provide tactile alerts when they begin drifting across lanes – our research suggests that drivers will be less likely to notice these alerts when engaging in demanding visual tasks such as searching for directions at a busy junction.” So now you know.