Why Are We Ticklish?YouTube↗  IA↗(long shot)
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[Music] this episode is supported by 23andme okay think of the last time you were
Okay, think of the last time you were physically tickled.
physically tickled weather was done by a friend or family member they were
Whether it was done by a friend or family member, they were probably trying to make
probably trying to make you love but for
you laugh.
most of us especially the most ticklish among us being tickled isn't necessarily
But for most of us, especially the most ticklish among us, being tickled isn’t necessarily
fun or funny so why do we love and where
fun, or funny. So why do we laugh?
did this whole bizarre reflex come from
And where did this whole bizarre reflex come from?
tickling actually refers to two different types of sensations one is a
Tickling actually refers to two different types of sensations.
light tickling like when something just barely brushes your skin and makes you
A light tickling, like when something just barely brushes your skin and makes you want
want to scratch or rub the area this is
to scratch or rub the area.
called businesses or a moving each and
This is called Knismesis, or a moving itch.
it has a helpful role like if you have any insect on you your response to that
And it has a helpful role: like if you have an insect on you, your response to that tickling
tickling sensation can help get it off quickly and prevented life but when we
sensation can help get it off quickly and prevent a bite
talk about tickling it we're usually talking about the other sensation where
But when we talk about tickling, we’re usually talking about the other sensation: where someone
someone touches you with more pressure causing you to laugh involuntarily this
touches you with more pressure, causing you to laugh involuntarily.
is called a gargle Lisa and some people are more susceptible to it than others
This is called Gargalesis, and some people are more susceptible to it than others.
and what we don't exactly know why we have some ideas
While we don’t know exactly why, we have some ideas.
most people are ticklish in areas like the neck ribs in a-five knees or feet
Most people are ticklish in areas like the neck, ribs, inner thighs, knees, or feet,
but these aren't the most sensitive areas of the body
but these aren’t the most sensitive areas of the body.
if being tickled was based on sensitivity people should be ticklish on
If being tickled was based on sensitivity, people should be ticklish on their face, or
their face all the palms of their hands
the palms of their hands.
instead are ticklish areas of the ones most vulnerable if we're in a fight or
Instead, our ticklish areas are the ones most vulnerable if we’re in a fight or being
being attacked so tickling may be
attacked.
evolutions way of teaching even very young children to protect their weak
So, tickling may be evolution’s way of teaching even very young children to protect their
points this also explains why we can
weak points. This also explains why we can’t tickle ourselves.
tickle ourselves it's hard to attack yourself when we can predict the outcome of our own actions being able to tickle
It’s hard to attack yourself when we can predict the outcome of our own actions.
yourself with no evolutionary prokhor
Being able to tickle yourself would serve no evolutionary purpose.
what this doesn't tell us is why we laugh when we're tickled but think about
What this doesn’t tell us, is why we laugh when we’re tickled.
it imagine tickling a kid and they start screaming and crying
But think about it: imagine tickling a kid, and they start screaming and crying.
you'd probably stop right but laughter
You’d probably stop, right?
response scientists think a larger
But laughter is fun!
response is to encourage tickling and
Scientists think the laughter response is to encourage tickling, and the self-defense
the self defense free things that come with and it's also
training that comes with it.
humor to participate in this strange activity other great apes make a laugh
And it’s not just humans who participate in this strange activity.
like noise when tickle which is thought
Other great apes make a laugh-like noise when tickled, which is thought to be the evolutionary
to be the evolutionary precursor to
precursor to human laughter.
human eyes but you can also tickle me ow penguins or rap these animals that let
But you can also tickle meerkats, owls, penguins, or rats.
up laughs like noises and most of them
These animals let out laugh-like noises, and most of them seem to enjoy it.
seem to enjoy it
One study found that young rats love being tickled and will seek it out, but female rats
this behavior it sounds pretty similar
find it aversive as they get older, and will start to avoid it.
to what we see in humans kids can find
This behaviour sounds pretty similar to what
being tickled entertaining but many adults don't like being tickled at ball
we see in humans. Kids can find being tickled entertaining, but many adults don’t like being tickled
the involuntary laughter is
at all.
uncomfortable or even painful an
The involuntary laughter is uncomfortable, or even painful, an experience that’s supported
experience that supported by brain stem
by brain scans.
a research group in Germany put a bunch of people in an fMRI to study the
A research group in Germany put a bunch of people in an fMRI to study the differences
differences between ticklish laughter and voluntary loss and only ticklish
between ticklish laughter and voluntary laughter.
laughter activated the hypothalamus which is responsible for visceral or
And only ticklish laughter activated the hypothalamus, which is responsible for visceral or involuntary
involuntary reaction also ticklish
reactions.
laughter activated parts of the brain responsible for pain and to the patient
Also, ticklish laughter activated parts of the brain responsible for pain anticipation.
so just because you're laughing it doesn't mean you're having a good time
So just because you’re laughing, doesn’t mean you’re having a good time.
it turns out the natural and common reflex to tickling is surprisingly complicated an individual opinions on
It turns out, the natural and common reflex to tickling is surprisingly complicated, and
the experience are varied - so are you
individual opinions on the experience are surprisingly varied.
ticklish do you like being tickled let
Are you ticklish? Do you like being tickled?
me know down in the comments section I just wanted to say thank you to 23andme for sponsoring this episode of brain craft 23 me is a personal genetic
Tell us about it in the comment section!
analysis company created to help people understand more about their DNA you can see where in the world your ancestors come from or learn more about how DNA
can impact your health now for those of you playing along at home I did say I would share my 23andme results and it's confirmed I'm actually the widest person
that you probably know 99.8% of my ancestry is from Northern Europe specifically Britain an island like I didn't even know that that was possible
go to 23m EECOM / brain crab to support our show and to learn more about your personal DNA story awkward thing we've never done I need it
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