The experience of tickling and ticklishness is the same across cultures: new research

The Conversation reports on cross-cultural research showing that tickling is a universal human experience. Scientists surveyed people from China, the Netherlands, and Greece and found no significant cultural differences in where people are ticklish or how they respond — armpits, bellies, and feet consistently rank as the most sensitive spots across all three cultures. More than ninety-eight percent of participants had been tickled at least once. Researchers tested five major theories to explain ticklishness and found the strongest factor is touch exposure: areas touched less frequently tend to be more ticklish, suggesting the trait evolved as a protective mechanism or to strengthen social bonds between caregivers and infants.

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