Why do people laugh as a natural reaction to tickling?

Question

Why is it a human's natural reaction to laugh instead of just sitting there?

Answer 1

Great question! Very little is actually known about tickling, as science has not spent much time studying it (no real value to society except to answewr the question for those of us who are ticklish!). Some of the other folks put it very well; laughing is the reaction that some peoples bodies have developed as a reaction to the stimulation of nerve endings in sensitive spots, such as feet, armpits, etc..It's not genetic, as you could have 3 siblings all reacting differently to the tickling stimulus; one laughs uncontrolably when tickled anywhere, the second dosen't laugh, but reacts with involuntary spasmodic movement when tickled in certain spots ony, and the third can be tickled all over, all day without haveing any reaction at all, and they all have the same genetic codes. The prevailing though is that we react to light touch as a throughback to our early ancestors, who developed this reaction as a defense to being bitten by harmful insects and reptiles. The tickling sensation would alert them to the presence of the animal, and allow them to brush them off before any damage was done. This still, of course, does not explain why some of us still maintain the reaction, in a more violkent fashion, while it has almost completely disappeared in others. It also dosen't explain why we have such vastly differing reactions to tickling, from uncontroled hysterics, to spasmatic movement, to sensual turn on for many. One day this, as well as the age old question of why can't we tickle ourselves, will be answered, but, hopefully, only after science finds a cure for all diseases!

Answer 2

Your body reacts accordingly to different stimuli. Tickling is a type of stimulation and laughing just happens to be the way your body chooses to react. All people don't laugh when ticked though. Some people feel pain, others may feel nothing-kind of like touching their arm or something.
Laughing is the most common reaction, but it all depends on your sensory glands.

Answer 3

Laughing as a result of ticking is due to sensitive nerve endings in certain areas. These areas can vary from person to person, but the "hot spots" are the tummy, feet, and underarms.

Answer 4

I've always wondered if it has something to do with bugs. You know, if a little bug starts crawling up your feet or into your armpits, that's not a very happy sign. So you go into convulsions to shake it off.

Answer 5

I don't know but I am extremely ticklish and hate it when someone does it to me. I guess it's similar to a reflex like when the doctor hits your knee with that little gavel thingy.

Answer 6

good question i don't realy kmnow

Answer 7

i have no idea...good question..