Q. Could you tickle one of your pets?
A: Probably yes, if you've got a dog or cat, though it's tough to identify the associated behavior because they lack "play vocalizations" as recognizable as ha-ha, says behavioral neuroscientist Robert Provine in "Laughter: A Scientific Investigation." Got a pet squirrel? "Outside my office window two young squirrels are at play--it's easy to imagine reciprocal tickling binds them during their lively wrestling and racing through the tree branches," akin to human "tickle battles" that sometimes wind up in sex. Young dogs, cats and rats have similar escapades. Psychologist Jaak Panksepp has finger-tickled laboratory rats, prompting playful nips and ultrasonic chirps.
More in the family, chimpanzee researcher Roger Fouts, a teacher of sign language to Washoe, said tickling is so popular with chimps they engage in tickle-fests, and signers will even converse about it. "But chimps are remarkably strong and can easily injure their human playmates. Whether tickling chimpanzees, a 500-pound gorilla, or another human, it's important to have a consenting and friendly subject."
You can join Unsolved Mysteries and post your own mysteries or
interesting stories for the world to read and respond to Click hereScroll all the way down to read replies.Show all stories by Author:  27534 ( Click here )
Halloween is Right around the corner.. .
|
