Tickling, known scientifically as gargalesis, remains a perplexing human behavior that elicits uncontrollable laughter. Despite interest from philosophers and scientists, including Aristotle and Darwin, its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Researcher Konstantina Kilteni investigates how the brain distinguishes between self-generated and external touch, emphasizing tickling's relevance in sensorimotor neuroscience and touch perception, especially in infants and individuals with schizophrenia. Kilteni's recent review in Science Advances poses five fundamental questions about tickling, moving science closer to unraveling its complexities.
The primary function of tickling in humans, akin to other primates, remains a mystery, provoking scientific inquiry into its underlying mechanisms.
Researcher Konstantina Kilteni emphasizes that studying tickling could reveal important insights about sensorimotor neuroscience and touch perception, especially in infants and people with schizophrenia.
Kilteni's recent publication in Science Advances addresses five critical and unanswered questions about tickling, inching neuroscience closer to unraveling this enigma.
Despite its triviality, tickling's complexity warrants exploration of human behavior, movement, sensation, and social context, as it poses intriguing challenges for scientists.
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