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By Lydia Patrick
Life & Trends Reporter
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A doctor has revealed the rarest body traits, and the internet is shocked.
Dr. Sermed Mezher (@drsermedmezher) from London shared four of the most unique traits in an Instagram reel—which amassed 104,467 likes and 3.6 million views—including a type of lip shape and having an internal monologue.
"Humans are all different and unique in myriad ways that extend far beyond the obvious variations in physical appearance," Mezher wrote in the caption of the reel.
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"These differences manifest in our genetic makeup, cognitive processes, emotional responses, life experiences, and even in the microscopic communities of bacteria that live within us."
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First on the list: the Cupid bow lip type.
This lip shape, characterized by a pronounced dip in the middle of the upper lip, forms a distinct "M" shape, resembling the bow of Cupid, the Roman god of love. It's a trait that is often celebrated in beauty standards, but not everyone has it, making it quite unique, Grace Gallagher explained in her article titled Everything to Know About Your Cupid's Bow for Healthline.
"There are no high-quality studies on the topic, but it's thought that less than 5 percent of people have this lip type," Mezher explained.
The second rare trait is the ability to voluntarily un-focus your eyes.
"Only 50 percent of people can voluntarily un-focus their eyes, just like how only some people can lift one eyebrow. They have better control of the muscles that control the lens of the eye, which allows it to go in and out of focus," Mezher said.
"People describe doing this to zone out of a situation. It can be useful for artists to gain perspective. And it has a small association, though only poor, with ADHD."
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According to Healthline, the ability to defocus your eyes involves relaxing the ciliary muscles, which control the lens of the eye, causing it to lose its focusing power.
This can be done deliberately by some people, allowing them to see objects in their periphery more clearly while the central object becomes blurred.
For others, this occurs involuntarily and might be more challenging to achieve or control.
Third on the doctor's list: having an auditory narrator.
Only a third of people have a voice in their head laying out their decisions and next moves, according to Mezher. This phenomenon, known as an internal monologue, involves a person having a constant stream of verbal dialogue running in their mind. According to Healthline, an internal monologue is a voice that narrates your thoughts throughout the day, reflecting on experiences and contemplating future actions.
"The rest of the population, instead of saying to themselves 'I'm gonna go to the shops,' will actually see themselves going there," he explained.
The final trait on Mezher's list: phosphenes.
Phosphenes are lights some people could see when they were children. According to the Cleveland Clinic, phosphenes are visual sensations of light that appear without actual light entering the eye. They can occur when pressure is applied to the eyes or when the eyes are closed and rapidly moved.
"They're described as an overwhelmingly pleasurable experience. You'd squeeze your eyes to see them more. It's like going through a time vortex. They peak before ages 4 and 7 and disappear into adulthood," said Mezher.
Instagram users were shocked that some of their personal characteristics were classified as unusual.
"Not everyone has inner dialogue? That's how I figure things out, I talk to myself in my head," said one user.
"YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF HUMANITY IS JUST RADIO SILENCE IN THEIR HEAD?????" exclaimed another viewer.
"What other lip shape is there???? I genuinely thought everyone's lips were that shape," said Meggie Mead.
"Apparently I am extremely rare because I have all of those," said Rayyan.
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