Can You Tickle Yourself? Here's What the Science Says

Tickling your body to the point you laugh out loud is nearly impossible because your brain can predict when you're about to tickle yourself. You can, however, give yourself a mild tickling sensation that some people think feels pleasant (and makes for an interesting way to pass a boring afternoon!). Come with us to learn how to tickle yourself , common tickling mistakes to avoid , and why you can't tickle yourself and laugh .

Can you tickle yourself?

No, you can't tickle yourself and laugh from it like when someone else tickles you. That's because your brain predicts when the sensation will happen and prevents you from getting a lot of pleasure from it. You can mimic a mild tickle on your skin that some people find enjoyable, but others find uncomfortable.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Tickle Yourself

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Lightly rotate your tongue in a circle on the roof of your mouth to create a tickling sensation. No one is entirely sure why this body part is so sensitive, but you're welcome to give it a try! ^{[1]
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Lightly tickle your skin with a feather or a brush. Use an object with soft tendrils or bristles, such as a feather or a brush, and lightly run it across the bottom of your foot or your neck. You still won't feel like you're being tickled as intensely as when someone else tickles you, but it might still feel good!
- Make a DIY tickling device by gluing long feathers onto a stick.
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This technique doesn't always work, but some people report a mildly ticklish sensation when they barely touch their skin with their fingertips and move them around in a circular motion. You can also try stroking your skin back and forth, like you're caressing yourself.

Section 2 of 5:

Common Tickling Mistakes to Avoid

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Don't tickle yourself by pretending your hand doesn't belong to you. Scientists have done experiments where they tried to trick a person's brain into believing that a plastic hand on a table in front of them was their hand. Even when the person's brain believed the plastic hand was theirs, they still couldn't tickle themselves. ^{[2]
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- Did you know? Some people with schizophrenia can tickle themselves and laugh. This may be because their brains have a harder time predicting the sensations caused by their movements. ^{[3]
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Not only is it a very bad idea to start putting things in your ear, as you might damage an eardrum, but it also doesn't work! The inside of your ear is no more able to be tickled than the rest of your body. As a rule of thumb, never put anything smaller than the tip of your elbow into your ear. ^{[4]
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The idea behind using your fingernails is that you can't tickle yourself because your brain knows it's your own fingers doing the tickling. So, if you use your fingernails, your fingers won't register the sensation. But this trick doesn't work, either. It will still produce a tickle, but once again, you probably won't feel the urge to laugh because of it.

Section 3 of 5:

Why can't you tickle yourself and laugh?

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Your brain predicts your own tickle and cancels it out. When you tickle yourself, the part of your brain called the cerebellum knows the sensation is coming and isn't surprised by it. As a result, it partially shuts down other parts of your brain that interpret the tickle as a touch and a pleasant sensation. When someone else tickles you, your cerebellum can't predict the sensation you're about to experience. This leaves the rest of your brain to respond to the tickle as touch that gives pleasure. ^{[5]
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Research source} If it's strong enough, you might even laugh out loud!
- There are actually two different types of tickles:
  - The light tickle you can give yourself is called knismesis . Some people like it, but others compare it to the feeling you get when a bug crawls on your skin.
  - The stronger tickle that makes you laugh out loud without trying is called gargalesis . This is the type that most people (with the exception of some people who have schizophrenia) can't give themselves. ^{[6]
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Section 4 of 5:

What is the most sensitive part to tickle?

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The most ticklish parts of the body are the soles, armpits, ribs, and neck. When someone tickles these areas on your body, you might have a hard time not laughing or jerking away! ^{[7]
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Go to source} Other sensitive areas are the shoulders, the sides of the torso, the stomach, the outsides of the elbows, the upper arms, the insides of the thighs and legs, the knees, and the ankles. ^{[8]
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- Did you know? Women in general tend to laugh more than men when they're tickled by someone else.

Section 5 of 5:

Final Thoughts

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This is because your brain knows what you're doing and predicts the tickling sensation before it happens. You can still mimic a mild tickle and find it enjoyable (although some people compare it to the feeling of a spider crawling across their skin). If you really want a tickle that makes you giggle, ask a friend, family member, or partner to intensely stimulate sensitive areas like the soles of your feet , ribs, armpits, and neck. Then, you'll feel the stronger tickle you're looking for!

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Is it possible to be ticklish on your face?

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It is more common to be ticklish on your neck and, in some cases, ears. However, very light touches anywhere on your body can produce a tickling sensation.

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Can I tickle animals?

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No, you should not tickle animals. However, you can pet them if they are friendly.

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Is it possible to tickle myself?

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Yes, it is.

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Tips

If you try to tickle yourself using a part of your body (fingers, etc.), you may or may not feel much. Try using other objects, like a feather or a brush, to tickle yourself and experience more of a sensation.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Feet tend to be more ticklish when they are wet. Soak your feet in warm water for at least 5 seconds. Place your fingers in the water close to your feet, close your eyes, take a deep breath through your nose, and start tickling. It’s guaranteed to make you at least giggle.
If you wrap your foot in cling wrap or put a plastic bag around it, you can usually tickle yourself pretty well.
Try rubbing baby oil onto the soles of your feet and using a hairbrush. It is incredibly effective!
Try using an electric tooth brush or face brush on your foot.

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Warnings

Never try to tickle yourself or someone else with sharp or pointy objects!

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Can You Tickle Yourself? Here's What the Science Says