http://ask.metafilter.com/77333/Why-am-I-extraticklish-when-Im-sleepy/ Comments on Ask MetaFilter post Why am I extra-ticklish when I'm sleepy? Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:03:46 -0800 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:03:46 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/77333/Why-am-I-extraticklish-when-Im-sleepy Why o why am I more ticklish when I'm tired? I'm always ticklish but I notice a marked increase in twitchy tickle-inspired laughing fits when I'm yawny. post:ask.metafilter.com,2007:site.77333 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:59:18 -0800 pieliza ticklish fatigue bedtime torture http://ask.metafilter.com/77333/Why-am-I-extraticklish-when-Im-sleepy#1148508 I am worse when I'm tired because I don't have the strength to fight off the tickles. I imagine you flex your muscles tightly to make them less ticklish, and if you're sleepy you don't react as quickly. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2007:site.77333-1148508 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:03:46 -0800 ZackTM http://ask.metafilter.com/77333/Why-am-I-extraticklish-when-Im-sleepy#1148653 I have no idea, but I imagine it has something to do with the way your mind processes sensations when you're tired or sleepy versus whether you're alert. If someone touches me when I'm starting to fall asleep, it often feels tickly and nerve-jangling even though it wouldn't if I were fully awake. Some sort of sensory overload thing, I think. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2007:site.77333-1148653 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:15:34 -0800 Metroid Baby http://ask.metafilter.com/77333/Why-am-I-extraticklish-when-Im-sleepy#1148856 You're more relaxed and thus more susceptible? comment:ask.metafilter.com,2007:site.77333-1148856 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:40:12 -0800 KAS http://ask.metafilter.com/77333/Why-am-I-extraticklish-when-Im-sleepy#1148864 I just did a Google search and now I see why you didn't just do a bunch of searches varying on "ticklish [xyz]"... comment:ask.metafilter.com,2007:site.77333-1148864 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:42:53 -0800 KAS http://ask.metafilter.com/77333/Why-am-I-extraticklish-when-Im-sleepy#1149769 When I get really tired, I get slaphappy; anything that will make me laugh when I'm not tired will make me laugh ten times harder when I'm exhausted. Do you laugh more at not-all-that-funny jokes, too? comment:ask.metafilter.com,2007:site.77333-1149769 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 07:31:03 -0800 booksandlibretti