• Question: how do you get tickled? how does it work? im very ticklish are you??? :O

    Asked by reem to Vijay, Amy, Karen, Sarah, Will on 8 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by katieh.
    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 8 Jun 2012:

      Hiya! Tickling is a strange, sensitive nerve feeling in very vulnerable parts of your body, like your neck and ribs. Scientists say it actually helps little children practice reflexes and self- defense skills safely!
      So children actually learn to protect those parts during tickle fights.
      The evolution of tickling is really interesting as well, apparently it has lead to us learning to laugh, and is a form of bonding in families and friends.
      Parents learn to tickle a baby only as long as she laughs in response. When the baby starts fussing instead, they stop. The face-to-face activity also opens the door for other interactions! There are whole books written on the evolution of laughter and tickling.
      If you are very ticklish, that probably means that you are now brilliant at self-defence!

    • Photo: Karen Reed

      Karen Reed answered on 8 Jun 2012:

      Wow I never knew all that Sarah – I love this question but couldn’t have answered it. Yes i’m ticklish especially round the ribs and neck.

    • Photo: Amy Birch

      Amy Birch answered on 9 Jun 2012:

      We have different types of touch receptors under our skin that respond to different sensations and send signals to nerves in our spine & up to our brain. Some are called mechanoreceptors and they respond to different mechanical stimulation on our skin, such as pressure, vibration or movement. They all have specific jobs, some can distinguish the difference between a big and small pressure (like the difference between a needle and a spoon) or between a soft and hard pressure. When you get tickled, it is thought that a type of these receptors called Pacinian corpuscles, are responding to the soft, moving pressure.
      Have you ever tried to tickle yourself? It doesn’t work very well, right? That’s because the sensation is also thought to be partly to do with perception – if you don’t expect it, then the tickle is worse!
      I am very ticklish on my feet, but not really many other places.

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