You probably never thought that tickling could be a good thing. Of course, for ticklish people, any awkward touch can cause an eruption of laughter and discomfort. However, we present to you all the benefits that tickling brings for mental and physical health.
The most important function of tickling is psychological. Charles Darwin noted that young chimpanzees laughed when they were tickled, from which he concluded that it was a type of social bonding with others.
Later, psychologists confirmed Darwin's theory, while pediatricians recommend parents to use tickling as a method of bonding with children (of course, without exaggeration).
The sensation that causes laughter is a product of sensitive nerve endings responding to tickling. Therefore, they can also warn us of possible threats to our skin, primarily from insect bites and skin infections. The soles of the feet and armpits have the most nerve endings.
Recent research has shown that tickling the soles of the feet can help the body to overcome the inability to retain natural needs. A study published in 2010 hypothesized that certain nerves in the feet stimulate the sacral plexus, the nerve that controls most pelvic activity.
Also, doctors say that foot tickling can significantly help people with flat feet to get rid of this problem. They also add that it can also help stop hiccups.
One must not forget the moment of laughter. It has long been scientifically proven that any kind of laughter secretes endorphins, i.e. the hormone of happiness. In addition, some scientists claim that tickling laughter helps us see who the brain recognizes as a friend, and they support their claims by the fact that a large number of ticklish people only react when touched by people they know.
Last, but not least, a study from the University of Leeds from 2014 showed that if you tickle the tragus, the part of the ear located at the very opening of the shell, it reduces the amount of stress experienced by the heart, reports N1.
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