Tickling

Tickling is to lightly touch, scratch, or rub a person or animal to make them laugh. For most people, it causes pleasure and happiness whereas others hate it. Tickle spots are feet, armpits, and sides of stomach.

Tickling yourself
It is believed by many that tickling yourself is very hard and by some that it is nearly impossible. Research shows that the brain notices and senses our movements and actions. This lets the brain prepare itself when we try to tickle ourselves. The unexpected senses are then cancelled by our brain, so we do not feel the reaction we would have if someone else tickled us when we least expected it.

Unlike others, some people in the world know how to tickle themselves. This is because they know the tickling spots in their body and are able to use other objects to tickle themselves. For example, they can use a piece of tissue and rub it against their stomach to tickle themselves. Tickling may be relaxing, but may also be painful.

Other websites

 Telegraph (UK) Article on "robot tickling experiment"
 Boston Globe Online - Why are some people not ticklish?
 Article 'Is it possible for someone to be tickled to death?' from The Straight Dope

Category:Reflexes