Virtual Signals Poses A Question - Why Can't Humans Tickle Themselves?

Source Article

Much to the dismay of wacky masochist everywhere, the human brain is wired against self-tickling. Because the brain controls movement, it knows what your hand is going to do before you do it. Thus it anticipates the exact force, location, and speed of the tickle and uses that information to desensitize you to your own roving hands. So why do we have a tickle response anyway? Turns out, it’s a defense reaction meant to alert our cave-dwelling ancestors to creepy crawlies that didn’t know their place, and the uncontrollable laughing fit that goes along with it is actually a panic response.

I needed a break from all the craziness in the world, so I thought I'd pose a question we all take for granted....Please post your thoughts.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/47d68f232455.jpg[/atsimg]

Haha, very cool video, your work?

S&F

Although I knew the answer to that already, it still is interesting to know!

Well hun, it looks like you already have your answer..... I could add something else but I think it would be a bit inappropriate. But I guarantee it will cross the minds of all that ask themselves this question.

reply to post by Signals


Couldn't I fasten a feather somewhere appropriate and in doing so effectively tickle myself, or would that be cheating? How could one possibly cheat at tickling? It is interesting and infinitely more interesting than economics and that boring trickle down theory, this tickle myself theory.

Signals I never knew that was why!

And I'm completely honored you thanked me in there ,my friend.

That was awesome, so well done. Flag

I am very ticklish on the roof of my mouth and can tickle it with my tongue just fine. The reaction is just the same as if someone else was to do it with their finger (or tongue). hard to test other areas as I am not very ticklish elsewhere.

Originally posted by Ahabstar
I am very ticklish on the roof of my mouth and can tickle it with my tongue just fine. The reaction is just the same as if someone else was to do it with their finger (or tongue). hard to test other areas as I am not very ticklish elsewhere.

You have a point there...I can too...You may have blown the roof off of this theory!

Thanks for the replies everyone.

That there were at some time a few human critters that could tickle themselves would be likely seeing how evolution likes to try all possibilities, but they probably went and tickled their silly selves right flat out of the gene pool.

Originally posted by Signals


You have a point there...I can too...You may have blown the roof off of this theory!

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Maybe its just sensitive inside the mouth where as, even if you know where it will be it still tickles (is sensitive)

But when someone tries to tickle ur ribs / arm pit for example its more that you dont know the direction and speed that gets you rather than it being sensitive.

Just my 2 cent

This thread made me happy, and is quite intriguing. What a strange topic, the topic of tickling! awesome thread of a topic I have never seen on ATS.

Job well done.

This topic is bogus to me because I can tickle myself. The bottom of my feet are super sensitive, I can tickle my skin just by lightly running my finger over it.

I acutally tried to tickle myself before, hahehehe. It doesn't work for me

Thanks for the break from this insane world!
Beatles are great for snapping you out of it too.

[edit on 25-1-2010 by tooo many pills]

I can tickle the bottom of my foot... but you're right, it is much more tolerable than if someone else tickles me.

What is a continuum transformer?

reply to post by LadySkadi


Continuum Transfunctioner? A device whose mystery is only exceeded by its power.

Haha, dude where's my car..

I can tickle the bottom of my feet myself.

I know this because on occasion I have gotten an itch on the bottom of my foot and tried scratching it with either my other foot or hand. Of course then I end up fighting the tickling and the itch.

Not very fun. Luckily it is rare the bottom of my foot itches.

Raist