Why We Can't Tickle Ourselves

The difficulty of effectively tickling yourself says more about your brain than your sense of humor.

By Dinsa Sachan
Jul 31, 2014 12:00 AMMay 17, 2019 9:38 PM
tickling
Dragon Images/Shutterstock

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It’s an oddity of physiology — humans can’t tickle themselves. Studies suggest this stems from the brain’s ability to predict sensations caused by our own movements, removing the surprise necessary for a good tickle. 

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