{
  "id": 7303342,
  "title": "Scientists develop “tickle robot” to solve touching mystery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/scientists-develop-tickle-robot-to-solve-touching-mystery",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-14T11:08:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DutchNews",
    "slug": "dutchnews",
    "url": "https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/09/scientists-develop-tickle-robot-to-solve-touching-mystery/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists in Nijmegen have developed a \"tickle robot\" to investigate the mystery of why people experience tickling. Aristotle, Erasmus, Galileo, and Darwin all attempted to unravel the purpose of tickling without success. Researchers Ziliang Xiong and Konstantina Kilteni are now employing robots and sensors to shed new light on the phenomenon. Despite its prevalence across cultures and throughout history, tickling remains a biological mystery. The lab, located in a windowless basement, is free from distractions to better analyze test subjects' responses. Participants wear caps with electrodes to monitor brain activity while the robot uses a metal pin to simulate tickling at varying intensities. Survey results from 448 subjects showed that most people laugh, squirm, or try to move away when tickled, with the sides, armpits, belly, and soles of the feet being the most sensitive areas. Although tickling is often associated with play and laughter, many find it unpleasant and potentially overwhelming. The researchers noted that tickling may have links to autism, potentially contributing to longer lifespans, and suggest a possible connection to sexual stimulation. Despite various theories, including Darwin's and Aristotle's, no single explanation has yet emerged to fully explain the reasons behind people's sensitivity to tickling.",
  "summary": "Researchers in Nijmegen have set up a laboratory to try to answer one of the oldest questions known to science:...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}