Image Source: spiritualityhealth.com.
The quest to understand the mechanisms behind ticklishness has been occupying some researchers for decades. To this date, we still do not have a clear map of why our bodies can be ticklish, with some being more than others. There are however, some things that we have been able to find out through studying the tickle-phenomenon.
Muscle Tone Increases Tickle Sensitivity
A study published in 1983 by Ruggieri et. al. demonstrated an increased degree of ticklishness where muscle tone was higher. His team also noted an inverse association between muscle tone and body awareness.
Note: It’s important to understand that these are correlations – which are not absolutes, and therefore can only support an hypothesis (not confirm it).
How Could Tension Be Equivalent To Ticklishness?
If you are a ticklish person, you understand the mix of sensations associated with being tickled. It induces you to laugh (sometimes uncontrollably), making it euphoric and yet it can be oddly painful at the same time. This occurs because the neural pathways that transmit touch and pain signals through the body are associated with being tickled. (reference).
Proposed Mechanisms
Some of our nerve receptors are what we would call “leaky”, meaning they have no firm seal. The openness of the nerve endings results in a greater readiness to depolarize (respond to a stimulus). When our connective tissue network is tight or has greater tone, there is greater pull on these nerves. With more forces pulling on the leaky nerves, we see even more leakiness and therefore the nerve can depolarize more readily.
An example of this would be a burning/painful sensation we feel when our skin is stretched. We feel the discomfort where our skin is stretched the most, not where the skin is being stretched from.
Okay, So What?
What we’ve found over the years of massage practice is that there is a correlation between the reduction in tension and the reduction in ticklish sensitivity. As yet, this is unsupported by scientific research – so this is simply anecdotal evidence. It is worth a self-test though! After a massage (or any tension-reducing activity…such as hot yoga), test it out to see how sensitive you are to tickling! Let us know how it goes below.
Bonus Fun Fact:
There are two types of ticklishness – knismesis and gargalesis! Knismesis is a feather-light touch that induces more of an “itch” response (like a bug crawling over your skin). Gargalesis is a deeper sensation of touch that is associated with laughter, rolling around on the floor and movements of defence.
If you liked this post, you’ll also get a kick out of this: “Just Because It Hurts Doesn’t Make It A “Deep Tissue Massage”“.
This is interesting. I have noticed that I am less ticklish after yoga class or when I am relaxed. An other observation is that children tent to be more ticklish than adults. I am not sure why.
Thank you for the bonus fun fact: knismesis and gargalesis 🙂
I actually find that I’m more ticklish when I’m relaxed…like often during a massage I find my self biting my lip trying desperately to keep giggles from spilling out…this would explain why some people, when tickled by strangers don’t laugh, but when tickled by someone they know and trust, they are more comfortable and relaxed and the tickling causes them to laugh
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing this, Kweku.
Hopefully one day, we can unravel more of the science behind this phenomenon.
Omg so I guess I am really tensed. Behind my thigh and calf always feel like they are tickling and I know I have the yearning to do a really good riff massage and if I do it right and long enough it would go away. It happens to the muscle next to my chin, my whole spinal Coloumn, my feet , gluets. Everything except my face pretty much. But what’s even funny is that I have realized that. I feel like I need a massage and I don’t want to touch it and hold out till a professional one and then I touch it and when they massage that spot I don’t even feel the need for it to be touched at all. How can I stop being so tensed? I’ve been feeling like this for about as long as I know. I’m 33 so since about 16 or so.any advice or educational information ?