Why can’t I tickle myself? © Dan Bright

Quick Q&A: Why can’t I tickle myself?

Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear, one step, two step, tickly under there.

Stephanie Organ

Asked by: Toby Graham, Shrewsbury

It’s all down to the lack of surprise. A 1998 study at University College London found that, when someone tries to tickle themselves, the brain reduces the intensity of the sensation by damping down signals in the somatosensory cortex – the brain region that processes touch.

If someone else tickles us, however, the brain doesn’t know what’s coming, and this mechanism doesn’t kick in – and we bear the full brunt of the tickling. This probably evolved so that we are able to differentiate between our own touches and those of another animal, such as a bug that could sting or transmit disease.

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Stephanie Organ

Science editor and writer

Stephanie is a science editor and writer with an interest in health and wellbeing. She has written for magazines such as BBC Science Focus and BBC Wildlife, as well as for the government and universities. Stephanie has also organised and run events combining science, technology and art, and in her free time promotes science to different audiences. She holds a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences and a Master’s in Science Communication. When she’s at home she’s usually out walking her border collie, on the yoga mat, or baking 'free from' treats.
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