• Question: Why can you not tickle yourself?

    Asked by mazzie10 to Damien, Rachael, Suzi, Tim on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Hi @mazzie10
      I don’t know the exact reason, but if I had to guess I would say it’s because you get the sensation of touch from both parts of your body – the bit doing the tickling and the bit receiving the tickling. So your body knows it’s not some ‘thing’ tickling your skin. Apparently we are ticklish to protect us from getting bitten by creepy crawlies! Yuk!

      Someone else asked ‘why are we tickish’ – have a look here:
      http://ias.im/58.2395

      Sorry this is only my guess as to why, but I hope it’s interesting!

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