I, as I’m sure many other are, am ticklish at the slightest touch, bursting out laughing at one pinch to the side or touch to my toes. As my hall mate scared me half to death last night, jumping out of nowhere and pushing in my side, as I fell on the floor half panicked, half dying of laughter, I wondered to myself, what makes an individual so ticklish?
In a study done by How Science Works, it speaks about why the human reacts in laughter to being “tickled.” Obviously we all have senses, laying in nerves throughout our body, allowing us to response in reaction to interacting with different things like touch. A specific nerve that is responsible for
the ticklish response is called the somatosensory cortex. The simple sensation that brings on the laughter is because this cortex has receptors that sends to the brain that the action is affecting the individual. The cortex sense the touch and creates a response, along with the help of the anterior cingulate cortex. The sense also goes through this passage as these two aspects of the nervous system work together, we all are inevitably on the floor thrashing around in laughter, unable to explain why we can’t breathe after many pinching to the side. Tickling can be either from a light, soft touch, like simply sprinkling fingers over toes, or a strong squeeze to the side- regardless, it can create the same reaction. The most known areas of sensitivity are usually, armpits, sides, neck, etc.
Another scientist and educator, Dr. Emily Grossman investigated information based on this funny phenomenon as well. She gives possible explanations for why exactly individuals have this t
ticklish sensation. Besides the cerebellum that controls this sensations reaction, she also brings up a statement that being tickled affects other parts of the brain like the Rolandic Operculum and Hypothalamus. These areas stimulate movement that coincides with reactions of being tickled.
Additionally, this also opens up the explanation why we cannot tickle ourselves. These two sections of the brain that are responsible for noticing the sensation are in the cerebellum. Because the tickle is not unexpected from ourselves controlling the sensation, our minds are prepared, and the reaction is not the same. Our mind disregards this “information” since we anticipate the action, it is not a unknown sensation. This is why I believe this particular topic is due to direct causation. There is no third variables no reverse causation that creates the reaction of being “ticklish,” but rather the action of grabbing a side, tickling toes or under the neck that causes the stimulation in the brain, and the reflex of a laugh and squirm.
I still give a major props to those who can keep a straight face when someone tickles them, trying to get a laugh. As for me, I can finally understand the logistics to my sporadic spaz attacks after being tickled. Everyone is different, sensations, brain activity, and reactions to certain stimuli, and the aspect of tickling sure applies.
Image sources:
http://sites.psu.edu/siowfa14/wp-content/uploads/sites/13467/2014/09/3339043.jpg
http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/shutterstock_84718192.jpg
http://www.todayifoundout.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tickling.jpg
I loved this post because I myself am super ticklish. I found it so interesting how you talked about the fact that we can not tickle ourselves. I never really put into perspective how I can fall to the floor crying if someone pokes at my side, but if I were to do it, nothing would happen and I would not feel a thing. In order for someone to have the feeling of falling to the floor laughing they must be tickled unexpected. I also like how you ended your post by giving props to the people who are not phased by being tickled. I hope one day I can be as strong as those people.
I most definitely relate to you because I myself am very ticklish. I think it’s interesting and kind of weird to think that it’s controlled by our brain in a way. Whenever I get a pedicure I always have to repeat in my mind “I’m not ticklish” because otherwise I might kick the girl in the face by accident. I heard this method from my friend who has actually trained herself to not be ticklish. I find this topic fascinating because we never realize how much power we hold.
I can totally relate to this post as someone who basically will be doubled down on the floor in tears and laughter from being tickled. I never really considered why our bodys react to being tickled the way that we do until I read your blog, so in that fact alone I think you wrote a really good piece because it brought to light an underlying topic I never even thought to question before. A question I still find myself asking is how come other people are completely not ticklish at all? Is it that they have less sensitive nerves or do they simply fight the urge to laugh for some reason? I think this article has a cool way of explaining such questions. http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-are-some-people-more-ticklish-than-others-1455560232
I can totally relate to this post as someone who basically will be doubled down on the floor in tears and laughter from being tickled. I never really considered why our bodys react to being tickled the way that we do until I read your blog, so in that fact alone I think you wrote a really good piece because it brought to light an underlying topic I never even thought to question before. A question I still find myself asking is how come other people are completely not ticklish at all? Is it that they have less sensitive nerves or do they simply fight the urge to laugh for some reason? I think this article has a cool way of explaining such questions. http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-are-some-people-more-ticklish-than-others-1455560232