The importance of skin area and gender in ticklishness was explored in the present study. No previous report has been published on stimulation of the body surface exposed when dressed in a swimsuit (supine and prone positions), and the use of a feather has not been reported before. Fifty-seven university students volunteered (female N = 26, age range: 19–25, mean = 22.4; male N = 31, age range: 20–26, mean = 23.1). Sessions were videotaped for scoring of local involuntary muscle contractions (IMC) and laughter. Smiles were not scored because the face was not visible in the prone position. Subjective ticklishness was scored on a visual analogue scale. Areas that gave rise to ticklishness, were hatched onto a figure of the body. A two-factor design (gender of tickler by gender of ticklee) explored effects on dependent measures. Results showed that laughter was most frequent in female ticklees, disregarding the gender of the tickler. Subjective ticklishness and IMC scored high in opposite gender constellations. Ticklish areas included the ankles, knees, medial sides of the thighs and legs, lateral sides of the upper part of the body, elbows, the upper parts of arms, and the neck and shoulders. It was proposed that laughter in response to tickling stimulation might express gender stereotypes of socio-expressive behavior in playful social interaction, whereas IMC and subjective ticklishness may reflect biological components of playfulness in opposite gender constellations when tickled by a feather.

中文翻译：

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皮肤面积和性别在痒感中的重要性

本研究探讨了皮肤面积和性别在痒感中的重要性。以前没有关于刺激穿着泳衣（仰卧和俯卧位）时暴露的体表的报道，以前也没有报道过使用羽毛。57 名大学生志愿服务（女性N  = 26，年龄范围：19-25，平均 = 22.4；男性N = 31，年龄范围：20–26，平均值 = 23.1）。对局部不自主肌肉收缩 (IMC) 和笑声的评分进行了录像。微笑没有得分，因为在俯卧位看不到脸。在视觉模拟量表上对主观痒感进行评分。引起发痒的区域，被孵化到一个身体的数字上。一个双因素设计（挠痒痒的性别和挠痒痒的性别）探讨了对相关测量的影响。结果表明，女性挠痒痒的笑声最频繁，不考虑挠痒痒的性别。主观痒感和 IMC 在异性星座中得分很高。发痒的部位包括脚踝、膝盖、大腿和腿的内侧、上身的外侧、肘部、手臂的上半部分以及颈部和肩部。