Experts distinguish two types of tickling. These are knismesis and gargalesis. Knismesis is a light touch that causes itching instead of laughter. This reaction is a defense mechanism of our body. It is seen in many animals.
Gargalesis is a much more complex mechanism. In this case, when certain parts of the body are affected, the person begins to laugh. It is impossible to control this reaction. Until now, the purpose of this type of tickling remains a matter of debate.
According to one theory, gargalesis is necessary to train protective reflexes, a response that could have helped our ancestors protect themselves from attacks by enemies or predators.
A more plausible hypothesis is that gargalesis is linked to play and social interaction. This type of tickling helps strengthen social bonds, develop communication skills and establish trusting relationships between people. This is confirmed by the fact that we cannot tickle ourselves.
It has been scientifically proven that during gargalesis, the same areas of the brain are activated as during play and social interaction. These are the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and insula. Activity is also observed in areas associated with processing tactile sensations (somatosensory cortex, amygdala) and the fight-or-flight response (hypothalamus).
Source: Ferra
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