Credit: iStock/fizkes If you’re ticklish, you may wonder why you start laughing or squirming when other people tickle you but not when you try to tickle yourself. This question fascinated Socrates and Charles Darwin and continues to intrigue modern day neuroscientists who research the mysteries of touch. Scientifically speaking, there are two types of … Continue reading Why Can’t You Tickle Yourself? The Science Behind Ticklishness
Itchy Skin
Spotlight On: Itching
Credit: iStock You probably don’t think much about itching until you have an itchy spot that’s just out of reach. Then, it’s all you can think about until you’re able to get rid of the “not-quite-painful-but-almost” feeling with a satisfying scratch. What exactly is itching? And what purpose does it serve? A review published in … Continue reading Spotlight On: Itching
Go Ahead and Scratch … Your Brain Is Telling You To
Winter is here, and for much of the country, it’s going to stick around for a while. When exposure to frosty air and the constant hum of the heat pump continue for too long, you may end up with dry, itchy skin. We know that scratching an itch feels good, but why? Researchers studied brain … Continue reading Go Ahead and Scratch … Your Brain Is Telling You To