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There's Scientific Reason Which Explains Why Our Armpits Are So Ticklish

There's Scientific Reason Which Explains Why Our Armpits Are So Ticklish

Now everything makes sense...

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

Tickling is just a bit of harmless fun, isn't it? Well that is until you feel like you can't catch your breath, smack your knee against the wall or even worse...

And the devil tickler always goes for the same spots - under arms, feet or ribs. It's like they've done it a million times over.

But what if we told you that there could be a scientific explanation behind why you're so ticklish - well when it comes to your armpits at least? Seriously.

We came across a Reddit thread which claims that ticklish armpits have evolved because we have a major artery there and as kids we were conditioned to protect our under arm area...

Among all the ticklish testes jokes we came across something that seemed a bit more legitimate.

One Reddit user said: "We have ticklish armpits (at least most humans), because the skin is so soft and not accustomed to a lot of 'hard' friction or stress.

"Additionally, a great many nerves responsible for physical feeling are located there, hence the nerves are extra responsive to a foreign touch. So to speak."

And the foreign touch thing makes sense because you can never tickle yourself... bet you're trying to now, aren't you?

The user continued: "Such nerves can be conditioned, or may not even be developed evenly over the course of ones live and are developed differently from person to person.

"Thus not all persons are ticklish under their armpits, or at their balls for that matter. Same applies to every other body region."

Why does it have to come back to balls?

When quizzed about how this theory works for the feet or hands, it was explained: "Most humans do not have ticklish hands due primarily to the fact that we use them so damn much and so much friction is applied over a lifetime.

"You may find ticklish hands on very old people and very young humans with very soft hands and nerves not accustomed to the requirements of everyday life. The feet work similar, you have a very soft skin underneath."

So it's all down to nerves and the softness of our skin in particular areas. But how can we make it stop - well that's a mind game, apparently.

According to Life Hacker, tickling breaks down into two major types: Knismesis - the tingling sensation - and Gargalesis - the squirming, laughing, breath-stealing.

Scientists reckon that the reason we laugh is all down to an evolutionary mechanism that's meant to teach us self-defence. So if you want to stop being so ticklish you have to use mind over matter and convince yourself that you don't actually feel ticklish.

Similar to when you're walking along a red hot beach and you tell yourself it's freezing cold to stop your feet from burning... can't just be me.

Featured Image Credit: The Simpsons/Gracie Films

Topics: Science, Entertainment, Interesting