“Solo tickle is even emptier than solo sex,” psychologist Robert Provine once wrote. After all, “you can masturbate to climax, but you cannot tickle yourself.” Why is tickling an activity reserved for ...

Tickling remains one of the most enigmatic sensations, blending neuroscience, psychology, and evolution. Despite centuries of study, its underlying mechanism continues to puzzle scientists, revealing ...

Wiggly fingers approaching the armpits can elicit giggles from some people. For others, even a feather caressing the toes will bring about no response. Scientists are perplexed by the variability and ...

Tickling may seem like child's play, but scientists are beginning to see it as something much deeper—a complex puzzle tied to human touch, laughter, and brain development. The sensation of being ...

Remember having knock-down-drag-out tickle fights as a kid? At the time, they seemed like a normal part of play. But for most adults, the thought of being tickled is annoying at best. And yet, it’s ...

DEAR DOCTOR K: I am a very ticklish person. My husband thinks it’s hilarious how easy it is to make me giggle and squirm. What causes ticklishness? DEAR READER: Ticklishness is indeed a mysterious ...

"It has been observed at least since the time of Aristotle that people cannot tickle themselves, but the reason remains elusive. Two sorts of explanations have been suggested. The interpersonal ...

Ticklishness is a human reflex least understood even though experienced by most everyone sometime during their life. A recent article in the, Wall Street Journal asked, “Why Are Some People More ...

Q: I am a very ticklish person. My husband thinks it’s hilarious how easy it is to make me giggle and squirm. What causes ticklishness? A: Ticklishness is a mysterious phenomenon, and not just for you ...

Socrates wondered 2,000 years ago, and Charles Darwin also racked his brains: what is a tickle, and why are we so sensitive to tickling? ‘Tickling is relatively under-researched,’ says neuroscientist ...