“Under what conditions can we engage in a meaningful, expressive interaction with an electronic device?” Say, for example, by ‘tickling’ a robot? This question is examined in a new article by Patrizia ...

We here at The A.V. Club have seen our fair share of demented robots. Over the years, we’ve found ourselves confronted with inventions ranging in grim design from “chattering, wide-eyed dental school ...

The human response to being tickled is really danged weird. When someone pokes another someone just so, the result is often spontaneous, uncontrollable laughter. This response is known as gargalesis, ...

Laughter doesn’t always signal enjoyment, and “stop” should mean “stop.” By Jenny Marder When she was a young child, Ashley Austrew’s father would hold her down and tickle her so hard she felt ...