Experience It: Tickly Stuff

byStaff Reporter

Tickling is the act of touching a part of the body to induce involuntary twitching movements or laughter. The term ‘tickle’ has historical roots, derived from the 16th-century English word ‘tickelen’. In 1987, psychologists G Stanley Hall and Arthur Allin distinguished between two types of tickling phenomena— knismesis is characterised by light movements causing an occasional itch and gargalesis is a more intense tickle resulting in laughter through sustained pressure on ticklish areas.

Why are some people more ticklish than others?Ticklishness is a complex and individual trait influenced by a variety of factors. Some of these are:Sensitivity of the Nervous System: Individuals with a more sensitive nervous system may be more prone to experiencing ticklish sensations. The nerve endi