10 interesting facts about tickling
We bring to your attention a selection of interesting facts about tickling
1. Tickling helps us get closer
Back in the 19th, Charles Darwin noted that tickling is a mechanism of social rapprochement. It serves one of the first forms of communication between mother and child. It also helps to establish ties between friends and is considered psychologists part of the fifth, the highest degree of social game, including proximity and cognitive interaction.
2. We cannot tickle ourselves
If the touch of another person can lead to tickling, why we cannot tickle ourselves? Scientists suggest that our cerebellum can distinguish an unexpected touch from the expected sensations, and this suppresses the tickling reaction. When we try to tickle ourselves, the brain anticipates this and prepares for tickling. Perhaps a different reaction to the expected and unexpected appeared in a person to better defend himself from enemies.
3. The most “sensitive” places are the most vulnerable places during the attack
The soles of the feet and armpits are considered the two most “sensitive” places on our body. In addition, most places sensitive to tickling, such as neck, chest, genitalia are also the most vulnerable in the battles.
The axillary vein and the artery are held in the axillary cavity, and it provides unhindered access to the heart, which is not protected by the chest. The neck also contains two important arteries in the human body that supply the brain with blood. The trachea that takes the air to the lungs is also located in the neck.
4. Tickling is a system of notification of our body
Just like itching, tickling can protect us, directing our attention to external stimuli, such as predators or parasites. This type of tickling, called the scribes – light tickling, rarely causes laughter and inherent in people and animals.
Scientists have found that the feelings that we experience when we tickle are forcing us to panic, and are a natural protective mechanism before creeping insects, such as spiders and beetles.
5. Tickling can turn into torture
There were cases in history when tickling was used as bodily punishment. So there is evidence that the Nazis used tickling as torture. The ancient Romans also used a special type of torture. They tied the violators, dipped their feet into salty water and forced the goats to lick it. Over time, the tickling became very painful.
As for death from tickling, there is evidence that a person can die of laughter, which means this is theoretically to some extent possible.
6. The older we are, the less sensitive to tickling
Is tickling a children’s game? There is a share of truth in this, since people under 40 years old are 10 times more often subjected to tickling than those for 40. And this is not because adults do not like tickling, just with age there is a gradual decrease in tactile sensitivity.
7. Tickling can be stopped
How to do it? Put your hand on the hand of a person who is tickling. Doctors often resort to this trick. . Thus, you seem to do the same actions as the doctor, which makes our brain think that you tickle yourself. The problem is only to grab the hand of the tickling.
8. Tickling helps to lose weight
If tickling causes you a strong laughter, then this leads to burning calories. Scientists have found that 10-15 minutes of laughter burning an additional 10–40 calories per day, which can mean a weight loss of several kilograms per year. Of course, this is not the same as going to the gym, but if you decide to lose weight, each calorie matters.
9. Tickling can give sexual pleasure
For some people, tickling almost any part of the body gives them pleasure, and there are those who are excited, watching how they tickle others. In a broad sense, tickling can serve as a form of preliminary game. However, with script – excitement from tickling, it becomes a form of sexual fetishism.
10. Why do we laugh when we tickle?
This is the main unsolved issue regarding tickling. Laughter is usually associated with humor and pleasure. But when tickling, it occurs uncontrollably, being unrelated to a joke or a funny occasion. Sometimes the process of tickling can even be unpleasant and painful. So why are we laughing?