Babies aren't necessarily unticklish, but their response to tickling differs significantly from that of older children and adults. Their lack of a robust tickle response is primarily due to their underdeveloped nervous system and social understanding.
The Role of Development
A key factor is the immaturity of their sensory awareness and social connection. As explained by Truong, a younger infant's response to tickling might be purely a motor or arousal reaction, rather than the laughter or enjoyment associated with tickling in older individuals. They haven't yet developed the complex neurological pathways and cognitive understanding needed to interpret tickling as a playful social interaction.
- Immature Nervous System: The nervous system is still developing, meaning the pathways responsible for processing sensory information and interpreting it as pleasurable or humorous are not fully formed.
- Lack of Social Connection: The understanding of tickling as a playful, social interaction is a learned response. Babies haven't yet established the social context to understand the interaction's meaning.
A Question of Response, Not Ticklishness
It's inaccurate to say babies are not ticklish. Instead, their response is different. They may exhibit movement or arousal in response to a tickle, but this isn't necessarily indicative of enjoyment or the same type of response seen in older children. Their reaction is driven by sensory input rather than a sophisticated understanding of the social dynamics of play.
Conclusion
Therefore, a baby's lack of a recognizable "ticklish" response stems from their developmental stage, particularly the immaturity of their nervous system and their lack of developed social understanding, leading to a different type of reaction to touch.
