The experience of tickling and ticklishness is the same across cultures: new research
More than 98% of people have been tickled. But scientists still don’t understand why we do it
A recent study conducted by researchers from the Netherlands has revealed that the experience of tickling and being ticklish is consistent across different cultures. The research, published in Nature Human Behaviour, surveyed individuals from Chinese, Dutch, and Greek-speaking backgrounds to investigate whether tickling behavior and responses differ based on cultural background.
The study focused on "gargalesis," a strong, laughter-inducing type of tickle, as opposed to the lighter "knismesis" tickle sensation. By analyzing self-reports from 149 Chinese, 150 Dutch, and 149 Greek participants, the researchers found that there were no cultural differences in the patterns of people who report being tickled and tickling others, nor were there differences in which body parts are considered ticklish.
More than 98% of people have experienced tickling at least once, and over 95% have tickled others. The most ticklish areas across all three cultures were found to be the armpits, tummy, and soles of the feet. When tickled, people generally laugh, resist, try to escape, or even tickle back or scream.
The researchers also examined five theories attempting to explain why ticklishness exists, none of which directly correlated with the density of touch receptors, skin thickness, vulnerability due to arteries, or the pleasurable nature of touch. Instead, the strongest relationship was found to be between ticklishness and the frequency of touch in certain body areas, with less frequently touched regions being more ticklish. A more comprehensive theory combining multiple factors proved to be the most explanatory.
As for the evolutionary reasons behind ticklishness, various hypotheses have been proposed. One theory suggests that being ticklish serves a protective function by making individuals sensitive to insects crawling on their skin. However, this is more relevant to the lighter tickles of knismesis. Another theory posits that the intense laughter associated with gargalesis is a form of social bonding, starting with caregivers and infants and extending to close family members and friends.
Another hypothesis proposes that ticklishness trains us to protect vulnerable body parts or acts as a reflex that moves us away from potentially harmful stimuli. The researchers believe that ticklishness provides valuable insights into how the brain processes different types of touch, social contexts, and evolutionary pathways.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
