In Russia - Tickling

A 2024 study on tactile gestures notes that the metaphorical power of tickling lies in its [citation:4]. Physical tickling is a unique blend of pleasure and pain, involuntary laughter and defensive withdrawal. Consequently, Russian metaphors of tickling carry a strong evaluative component, capable of expressing both the pleasant sensation of being flattered and the unpleasant sensation of being socially or psychologically "needled."

Finally, the Russian government is currently funding high-level neuroscience research into tickling. The "Laboratory for the Study of Tactile Communication" (Mega-grant 2022-2024) lists as a key objective: "A psychophysical, electrophysiological and neurometabolic research of knismesis" [citation:10]. tickling in russia