How does Tickling work and why does it affect people differently?
In: Biology
We’re not totally sure.
When we use the word tickle, sometimes we use the word to describe the light flitting sensation that triggers an urge to scratch, sometimes we use the word to describe the nervous laughter inducing sensation generated by someone else applying deep, arrhythmic pressure to a ticklish zone. I’m going to assume you mean the latter.
Here’s what we do know:
We can’t tickle ourselves.
There is strong evidence that this is a primate only instinct.
It’s important for parent-child bonding
Here are some hypotheses as to what it’s for:
Bonding
Combat training
Self protection
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Follow up question: If you were being tickled for hours on end, would you stop having the tickling reaction? Or would you become desensitized?
The tickling sensation happens when a nerve ending is touched and some people have more nerve endings in some areas than others
If you’re reading this, you just tried tickling yourself, didn’t you?
I don’t know much science about tickling, but in my experience, I used to be ticklish as a kid, but then one day my cousin and I were wrestling in a trampoline when he tickled me so much, I randomly stopped feeling the tickles, ever since that day I’ve never been ticklish again
I read somewhere that it is evolutionary to protect our vital locations. The neck, stomach, ribs, bottom of feet, and armpits. They said that these locations are hyper sensitive so that we innately learn to protect these areas. Sounded legit to me.
Hypersensitivity with certain parts of the body Induce jerking movements flinching towards the opposite direction of the tickle. Whereas others who aren’t hypersensitive in those regions will not thus they won’t physically react.
I read the sensation is primitive, to be aware when a spider is on you, for example
I think it only tickles when you expect it to not be dangerous.
Same as dogs play fighting. Playful training for combat. Many ticklish spots are vital locations.
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