Why can't I tickle myself?

Question

Why cant people tickle themselves? I'm a very ticklish person and I've always wondered why I can't tickle myself? No perv. answers either... I will report answers that are not informative!

Answer 1

Your brain knows when you try to tickle yourself, There is no element of surprise when you do it.

The answer lies at the back of the brain in an area called the cerebellum, which is involved in monitoring movements. Our studies at University College London have shown that the cerebellum can predict sensations when your own movement causes them but not when someone else does.

When you try to tickle yourself, the cerebellum predicts the sensation and this prediction is used to cancel the response of other brain areas to the tickle.

Answer 2

Idonno why ppl think because you're not expecting it because that's totally bull. You can tickle someone who is very ticklish without ever touching them, just the thought that they are going to be tickled can drive some ppl crazy. The sensation is caused by sensitive nerve endings but the reason why most ppl can't tickle themselves is still up for grabs, as far as I know. Although I have heard it is a physiological effect and has to do with socialization, Idonno if that's true

Answer 3

My guess would be that your body knows it is comming. Part of the tickle is the suprise reaction. Just like burning your hand on a stove, even though you see the hot stove your body tells you hey this hurts. So even when you see the tickler comming your brain may not tell your arm or leg or whatever body part is to be tickeled that the sensation is comming.

Answer 4

You are not ticklish when you anticipate the spot where the tickle will take place. Here is a quiz I wrote about tickling for FunTrivia.
http://www.funtrivia.com/quizdetails.cfm?quiz=235788

Answer 5

Tickling is all about the element of surprise. Even if you seem them swooping in to tickle the bottom of your foot, you really don't know how they're going to tickle you.

You, however, already know what you are thinking when you think it, so the element of surprise is absent, i.e. no tickling yourself, unfortunately.

Answer 6

You cant tickle yourself because you know that you are going to be tickled.

Answer 7

i think when some one else tickles its a suprise so it catches you off guard. when you try it yourself you know whats coming. try a feater under your foot or across your back. it worked for me.

Answer 8

It is a strange thing, but sometime I can tickle my feet when I 'm not trying too.,

Answer 9

i belive because you are expecting the fact that you are going to tickle yourself.

Answer 10

You can't tickle yourself because you don't make yourself feel uncomfortable and vulnerable.