Ticklish Spots Are Universal Across Cultures, Study Finds

A new study published on August 10 in Nature Human Behaviour reveals that ticklish spots are surprisingly consistent across cultures. Researchers surveyed 448 participants from Chinese, Dutch, and Greek backgrounds, finding that the armpits, soles of the feet, belly, and neck are the most ticklish areas universally. The study, led by Konstantina Kilteni at Radboud University in the Netherlands, also found that over 98% of participants had been tickled, and more than 95% had tickled others. Notably, 42% enjoyed being tickled as children, but only 35% as adults. The research ruled out theories linking ticklishness to thin skin or vulnerable body parts, but partially supported Charles Darwin's idea that less-touched areas are more ticklish. The findings may help explain the evolutionary origins of tickling, which is shared with rats, meerkats, and great apes. Ongoing research at Kilteni's Touch & Tickle Lab uses a robot named Hektor to study physiological responses to foot tickling. The study also suggests potential links to neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and schizophrenia, which affect sensory processing.