Tickling: a window into the brain's mysteries
A recent study published in the journal Science Advances sheds light on the intriguing phenomenon of ticklishness. It explores why certain touches make us laugh uncontrollably while others do not, and why we cannot tickle ourselves.
The study, led by Konstantina Kilteni, Assistant Professor at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, and affiliated to Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour (The Netherlands), delves into the brain's processing of ticklish sensations, revealing that tickling is not just a playful interaction but a complex neurological response. Konstantina Kilteni's work highlights that understanding ticklishness can provide valuable insights into how the brain functions, particularly in relation to motor and affective processes.
"Ticklishness might seem like a trivial subject, but it has significant scientific relevance. Our responses to ticklish stimuli are altered in individuals with conditions such as schizophrenia or autism spectrum disorder, making this research crucial for developmental and clinical neuroscience," says Konstantina Kilteni.
Brain’s perception of tickling
The study also examines why some parts of the body, like the armpits, are more ticklish than others, such as the hands.
The brain's ability to distinguish between different types of touch is crucial to understanding how we perceive touch and its evolutionary significance.
"Despite being a universally recognizable sensation, the mechanisms behind ticklishness remain surprisingly elusive. By studying ticklishness, we can learn more about psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as the evolutionary aspects of this sensation seen in great apes and likely in rodents," Konstantina Kilteni explains.
Understanding ticklishness
The next steps for Konstantina Kilteni and her team involve investigating why some parts of the body are more sensitive to tickling, how the brain suppresses ticklish sensations during self-touch, and whether laughter during tickling reflects pleasure or discomfort. This research aims to build a solid scientific understanding of ticklishness and its function in humans and other animals.
This study was supported by an ERC Starting Grant and involved collaborations with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour in the Netherlands.