The Reason You Can’t Tickle Yourself

Ever wondered why attempts to tickle yourself don’t work? The phenomenon can be explained by a neurological concept known as “corollary discharge.” This mechanism, crucial in the processing of sensory information, helps the brain distinguish between sensations resulting from one’s own actions and sensations produced by external stimuli.

Corollary discharge is a signal that is sent from motor areas in the brain to the other areas of the brain when a movement is made. This signal informs the sensory regions about the movement that is about to be made and the expected sensory feedback. When someone else tickles you, the sensation is unexpected, and the brain receives external sensory input without prior warning from corollary discharges. This discrepancy between expected and actual sensory input triggers a reflexive tickle response, often leading to laughter or squirming.

However, when you try to tickle yourself, the brain sends a corollary discharge signal along with the motor command to move your fingers to the ticklish area of your body. This signal prepares the sensory areas of the brain to anticipate the touch, effectively cancelling out the unexpected nature of the stimulus. As a result, the brain recognizes the sensation as self-generated, thus reducing or completely negating the ticklish effect.

The inability to tickle oneself serves as a fascinating example of the brain’s sophisticated method of sensory processing and motor control. This mechanism is crucial for everyday activities, as it helps maintain a consistent and coherent sense of the physical self in a dynamic environment. It ensures that we can focus on important external stimuli without being overwhelmed by the sensory feedback from our own actions.

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