NationStates Jolt Archive

Why can't we tickle ourselves (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=96&e=1&u=/space/20050628/sc_space/whyyoucanttickleyourself) ?

Apparently because our brains can predict it.


The human brain anticipates unimportant sensations, such as your own touch, so it can focus on important input like, say, a tarantula crawling up your neck.

The results might explain why it's hard to tickle yourself, scientists said today.

In the study, 30 people used a finger on their right hand to touch a finger on their left hand by tapping a device place directly over the left finger and could instantly relay the tap. The computer-controlled device could introduce delays of varying length before the left finger was tapped. Researchers used another button to introduce externally generated taps.

So if you could just distract yourself long enough to get in a tickle...

*falls out of chair trying*

I accidentally tickle myself all the time. Especially behind the knees. Never when I'm trying, though.

*realizes he shouldn't have given that secret away*

I accidentally tickle myself all the time. Especially behind the knees. Never when I'm trying, though.

*realizes he shouldn't have given that secret away*
Just what are you trying to do to yourself that would involved you bending over as far as you could, accidentally brushing your fingers behind your knees...you do realise that act is almost an impossibility, don't you? :eek:

Just what are you trying to do to yourself that would involved you bending over as far as you could, accidentally brushing your fingers behind your knees...you do realise that act is almost an impossibility, don't you? :eek:

It's not THAT hard to bend over and touch the back of my knees. I can do it almost without bending over at all.

But I usually do it when I'm sitting down with my feet up on my desk. I have this back scratcher dealie that I constantly play with....

I can tickle myself. My reaction to it causes me to stop pretty quickly