Michael’s lip curled. “This is absurd.”
Please let me know if you need me to add anything else. michael fitt tickle
The term "tickle" in this context refers to a specific subgenre of performance media. While often misunderstood by the general public, tickling content—ranging from playful "tickle fights" to endurance challenges—has a dedicated global audience. Michael’s lip curled
| Research Avenue | Rationale | Suggested Design | |----------------|-----------|-------------------| | | To test universality of tickle’s social function. | Ethnographic fieldwork + standardized tickle‑response protocol across at least 5 non‑WEIRD societies. | | Clinical Applications | Tickling may be therapeutic for social‑communication deficits (e.g., autism spectrum disorder). | RCT where children with ASD receive a structured tickle‑play regimen vs. a tactile‑control condition; outcomes: joint attention, eye‑contact, and parent‑reported social reciprocity. | | Neurophysiological Precision | Disentangle affective vs. motor components. | Simultaneous MEG + facial EMG recordings during unpredictable tickle; source localisation of ACC vs. primary motor cortex. | | Human‑Robot Interaction | Can a robot elicit the same “tickle‑laugh” cascade? | Develop a soft‑actuated “tickle‑arm” on a humanoid robot; compare human participants’ physiological (HRV) and neural (fNIRS) responses to human vs. robot tickling. | | Longitudinal Adult Cohort | Most work focuses on children; adult tickle dynamics (e.g., in romantic or team‑building contexts) remain under‑explored. | Survey + lab component tracking adult couples over 2 years, measuring tickle frequency, relationship satisfaction, and oxytocin levels. | While often misunderstood by the general public, tickling
| | Details | |----------|-------------| | Background | Certified physiotherapist (BSc, MSc) with 12 years in sports rehabilitation. | | Pivot Point | While helping a client with chronic shoulder tension, Fitt discovered that a gentle, rhythmic tickle along the trapezius instantly released muscle tightness. | | Current Role | Founder of TickleWell™ , a boutique wellness studio in Portland, OR, offering group workshops, one‑on‑one sessions, and corporate “Laughter Labs.” | | Philosophy | “Laughter is the body’s natural antidote to stress. If we can trigger it safely and intentionally, we can harness its biochemical benefits for health.” | | Media Spotlight | Featured in The Atlantic (2024), NPR’s “Science Friday” (2025), and on the cover of Wellness Today (2026). |