Why can\u2019t we tickle ourselves? And why are some people barely affected, while others burst into laughter or screams? Neuroscientist Konstantina Kilteni from the Donders Institute investigates these questions in her \u2018tickle lab\u2019 at Radboud University and recently argued for more serious scientific attention to tickling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ever since the time of Socrates and Darwin, people have wondered why we react so strongly to being tickled. Yet it remains a rarely studied phenomenon. Kilteni proposes that tickling is a complex interplay of social, neurological, evolutionary, and developmental factors. Understanding how tickling works in the brain could also shed light on other areas of research\u2014such as parent\u2013child bonding and the development of the nervous system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, people with autism are more likely to perceive touch as ticklish. This difference may offer insights into how the autistic brain functions differently. Even animals like bonobos and rats respond to tickling. But what\u2019s the evolutionary purpose behind it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most intriguing aspects of tickling is that you can\u2019t properly tickle yourself. Somehow, the brain knows you\u2019re doing it, and suppresses the reaction. But how it does so remains a mystery. Scientific research into tickling is made difficult by the fact that the term itself is poorly defined\u2014there\u2019s a difference between gentle stroking and more intense tickling, and no two manual tickling actions are the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why Kilteni developed a specialised tickle lab, where a mechanical rod gently strokes the underside of the foot. This makes experiments consistent and repeatable. At the same time, she measures brain activity, heart rate, sweat response, skin reactions, and whether a person laughs or screams.
\u201cWith controlled experiments like these,\u201d she explains, \u201cwe can gain a better understanding of both tickling and the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to know more about this research? Read the following articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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