Are Animals Ticklish? | Tumble Episode
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Can you tickle a dog? A rat? A chimpanzee? Our listeners have been wondering — and it turns out, the science of tickling is way weirder and more fascinating than anyone expected. In this special Mailbag edition, we answer your tickling questions with the help of a real tickle scientist, and Marshall debuts a brand-new song inspired by a listener's spider roommate! 🎶🕷️
🎧 Listen to the Episode
🤣What Kids Will Learn
Whether dogs, rats, and other animals can be tickled — and how scientists know
Why tickling only works when someone else does it to you
What tickling can tell scientists about a sense of self
Why "comparative tickologist" might be the greatest job title in science
🔎About The Featured Experts
David Leavens is a professor of psychology who has spent his career studying primate cognition and behavior — including a memorable stint tickling a chimpanzee named Clint. He authored a paper called A Quick Guide to Tickling in a scientific journal, which tells you everything you need to know about the seriousness with which science takes this topic. Dr. Leavens is based in the UK and his work explores what animal behavior can reveal about the nature of self-awareness and consciousness.
🧑🏫 Classroom & Home Resources
🔗 NGSS Alignment: 3-LS2-1, 4-LS1-1
📜 Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect; Patterns
📚 Learn More:
Why Are We Ticklish? Why Do We Laugh? — Scientific American
Science News Explores — search "tickling" for kid-friendly explainers on animal behavior and laughter
Want to explore more about animal behavior and senses? Check out Animal Diversity Web
💬 Discussion Questions
If dogs and rats can be tickled, what other animals do you think might be ticklish? How would you test your hypothesis?
Would you want to be a "comparative tickologist"? What animals would you study?
🎧 More Mailbag & Animal Episodes: Do Animals Have Friends?, Why Do Animals Play?
📚 For Teachers: Explore our Audio Courses for NGSS-aligned science learning.
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