The science nerds have returned to the new alcohol thread.
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Mastertank1 said:
Alcohol in small quantities relative to total volume of bodily fluids acts as a Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant, resulting in increased tactile sensitivity, while the relaxation of behavioral inhibitions may cause greater responsiveness, which looks like increased ticklishness.
I'm going to have to correct you about alcohol being a CNS stimulant at small doses. Alcohol is ALWAYS a CNS depressant, at any dose. At mild levels of intoxication, it can result in stimulation of the adrendal glands, which accounts for the stimulant properties - it's not related to the effect of the drug on the brain. It's also important to consider the situations in which alcohol tends to be consumed - bars, parties, fun times. There are some interesting psychological models relating to the subjective experience of intoxication - it possible that people experience a kind of compensatory excitement that counteracts the depressant effects of alcohol, at least at first, so the subjective experience is of being more hyper, not less.
The reason this matters (alcohol as CNS stimulant vs. alcohol as adrenal/psychological stimulant) is that though you may feel more "on" while mildly intoxicated, you do NOT drive better, you do NOT think faster, and you are NOT functioning at an improved level. Even though you might feel more energetic, you are still impaired. I'm not saying you're so impaired that you're not safe to drive after one drink, but I think you're safer if you understand that your reflexes are probably a little slower than usual even after one drink, so you should be more careful than usual. Being under the impression that you're functioning better or faster after a little alcohol would be a mistake.
But I think what you said about alcohol relaxing behavioral inhibitions so people
react more to tickling is right on. I believe that's the most important factor, along with expectations of being more ticklish, that accounts for the increased ticklishness while intoxicated that some people experience or observe.
BTW, I totally agree with everything you said about THC, but tangent/soapbox much?

I think it's enough to say that if you're looking for a drug to make you more ticklish, pot's a better choice than booze.
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