The Healing Power of Touch: Tickling Reduces Stroke-Induced Brain Damage in Rats Tickling a rat's whiskers after it has a stroke prevents brain damage By Mark LescroartJuly 11, 2011Strokes cripple more people in the U.S. than any other disease. Modern drugs can unblock clogged arteries if patients get to care facilities in time. But the longer the trip to the hospital, the more nerve cells die from lack of blood. Better ways to avert brain damage could dramatically improve patients’ quality of life. Recently a team of neuroscientists stumbled on a very low tech way to completely prevent stroke damage...