Why Are We Ticklish?

Why Are We Ticklish and Is There Science Behind It?

Tickling is one of those parental experiences that we love to share with our children and babies. It can give everything from laughter to discomfort, or even irritation, depending on the context. While it may seem like a simple, playful act, tickling has a complex and fascinating background rooted in both biology and psychology. I am Dr. Aaron Workman of Chambers Medical Group, one of the highest rated car accident medical care facilities in Kentucky, and I want to talk about tickling, the different types, and some different ideas on its importance.

The Two Types of Tickling:

Knismesis is the light, itching sensation you feel when something brushes up against your skin. If you have ever had an insect or feather touch you without knowing, that sensation may cause you to swat at whatever the cause is. There typically does not end in laughing.

Gargalesis is the type of tickling that most people associate with laughter. It involves more active pressure, usually applied to sensitive areas (tickle spots) like the ribs, armpits, above the knees or feet, and often leads to uncontrollable laughing in all of my kids. This is the type of tickling that is almost impossible to do to yourself and usually requires someone else for the tickling to elicit a response.

The Purpose:
From a biological standpoint, tickling may have evolved as a way to protect ourselves. The light tickling of knismesis could serve as an alert system, making us aware of insects or other small bugs on our skin. This would prompt us to brush them away before they could bite or sting. Think of this as a type of reflex that may save you from insect borne diseases.

Gargalesis is more complex. Some scientists believe that this form of tickling may have developed as a social bonding mechanism. In primates, for example, tickling is often seen during playful interactions between individuals, strengthening social bonds. In humans, it is possible that tickling serves a similar purpose.

Why We Laugh:
The laughter associated with tickling is still not entirely understood. One thought is that laughter is a reflexive response to the unexpected physical sensation. This is one of the reasons it is impossible to tickle yourself because the touch and pressure becomes predictable. The sensation can be either pleasing or more uncomfortable, which could explain why we laugh.

The Role of the Brain:
Research has shown that the brain plays a large role in how we perceive tickling. The somatosensory cortex, which processes touch, and the anterior cingulate cortex, which handles the skin’s nerve endings, both light up during tickling. However, when we try to tickle ourselves, the cerebellum interferes, reducing the ticklish sensation. This explains why tickling yourself does not work as the brain predicts the movement and kills the response.

While tickling may seem like just a fun or annoying part of life, tickling has evolved to serve several purposes, from protecting us from potential threats to strengthening bonds. Whether you found it fun as a child or felt like it was torture, tickling is a reminder of the many ways the body and mind are amazingly connected.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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