Why Are We Ticklish ? The Science Behind This Mysterious Reaction

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Who has never experienced this ambiguous situation : seized by an irrepressible burst of laughter under the tickling effect, while begging his “torturer” to stop? This duality between pleasure and discomfort raises interesting questions about the neurological and evolutionary mechanisms behind this phenomenon. Neuroscientists are looking into this reflex, revealing little little the underside of this very particular reaction.

From knismesis to gargalesis: the two faces of tickling

The term “tickling” actually covers two distinct phenomena. On the one hand, knismesis, that light sensation caused by the brushing of an insect or a feather on the skin. On the other hand, gargalesis, the subject of our investigation, which refers to intense tickling aimed at the ribs or armpits, triggering laughter and gesticulation in many people.

Alicia Walf, a neuroscientist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, highlights a fundamental difference between laughter provoked by tickling and laughter from a joke. Laughter triggered by humor is processed in the frontal lobe, the seat of memory and abstract thought within our brain. Conversely, the sensation of tickling is managed by the limbic system, rather involved in primary emotions.

A neural dance between social bond and survival instinct

One of the most widespread theories sees tickling as a mechanism of social connection. Walf notes that we generally don't enjoy being tickled by strangers. This observation suggests that tickling plays a role in strengthening bonds, particularly between parents and children.

Tickling could also be a very important process in the cognitive development of newborns. Babies and young children, more ticklish than adults, would thus see their sensory system “trained” by these intense stimulations. Walf specifies that at birth, the sensory system must be educated fairly early. Tickling can therefore play this role, since’by tickling our little ones, we would thereby contribute to refining their ability to distinguish harmless sensations from potentially dangerous ones.

This hypothesis would explain why the most ticklish areas are located near the vital organs. “ It is beneficial to teach this part of the body that “OK, this contact is acceptable”, but what about -beyond a certain threshold, it is no longer  », adds the researcher. A form of ancestral memory and brain plasticity that would have allowed us to develop increased sensitivity to vulnerable areas of our body, while giving us room to maneuver to understand positive social interactions.

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The enigma of self-tickling: when the brain plays spoilsport

A rather intriguing aspect of tickling, which we have all noticed at some point, lies in our inability to tickle ourselves. This phenomenon is partly explained by the absence of surprise, a key element of the reaction. But Walf goes further; There is actually an inhibitory mechanism that can reduce this sensation. It is activated in particular when we are in a bad mood or uncomfortable with the person tickling us.

« We have a very precise body map, which allows us to control the sensation and partially attenuate the tickle pathway ,” explains the neuroscientist. This ability to self-regulate would support the idea that tickling helps babies distinguish the self from the other.

Psychologist Robert Provine, a specialist in laughter, suggests that laughter induced by tickling could constitute a form of preverbal communication between infants and their parents. A hypothesis that highlights the potential role of tickling in early cognitive and social development.

Tickling, far from being a simple harmless reaction, turns out to be a complex phenomenon with multiple facets. At the crossroads of neurological development, social communication and sensory learning, it continues to pique the curiosity of researchers. While its precise mechanisms remain partly mysterious, one thing is certain: this very particular reaction is a testament to the fascinating complexity of our brain and body. So, the next time you find yourself in an uncontrollable fit of laughter under the influence of tickles, remember that your brain is performing a true neurological feat, juggling between pleasure and protection, social connection and sensory learning. A performance that deserves a few laughs, right ?

• There are two types of tickling, knismesis and gargalesis, and the latter, linked to primary emotions, plays an important role in social and sensory development.
• Tickling could be an ancestral protective mechanism, helping babies distinguish caresses from aggression.
• Laughter elicited by tickling could also be a form of nonverbal communication, strengthening social bonds, particularly between parents and children.

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