Why we can't tickle ourselves

Healthy humans cannot tickle themselves or attribute their own voices to those of other people, according to a new study that determined that individuals anticipate their own actions, which can beneficially alter their sense of perception.

Since it is now believed that a breakdown in this anticipation process may underlie the delusions of schizophrenics, the finding may lead to a better understanding of this mental disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 51 million people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia.

The study also solves the long-standing mystery as to why most humans and animals cannot tickle themselves.