Social Touch Reduces Pain Perception-An fMRI Study of Cortical Mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Unmyelinated low-threshold mechanoreceptors (C-tactile, CT) in the human skin are important for signaling information about hedonic aspects of touch. We have previously reported that CT-targeted brush stroking by means of a robot reduces experimental mechanical pain. To improve the ecological validity of the stimulation, we developed standardized human-human touch gestures for signaling attention and calming. The attention gesture is characterized by tapping of the skin and is perceived as neither pleasant nor unpleasant, i.e., neutral. The calming gesture is characterized by slow stroking of the skin and is perceived as moderately to very pleasant. Furthermore, the attention (tapping) gesture is ineffective, whereas the calming (stroking) gesture is effective in activating CT-afferents. W

SUBMITTER: Savallampi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10046093 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature