A Touch Means So Much

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A Touch Means So Much

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Warner

WebMD Medical News

Aug. 2, 2002 -- A soft caress can really help you get in touch with your

emotions. New research shows humans are wired to respond to soft touches in

highly emotional ways.

The study suggests that there are specialized nerves in the skin that trigger

an emotional reaction in the brain when stimulated by slow, soothing strokes.

Researchers say the unique function of these nerves may help explain the

complicated emotional and hormonal response people have to caresses.

Study author Hákan Olausson of Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenberg,

Sweden, and colleagues say that until now the purpose of this system of nerve

fibers that conduct signals to the brain very slowly was unclear. These

nerves do not respond to certain types of sensations, such as vibrations or

pain, in the way that the other, fast-conducting nerve fibers do.

To determine which type of nerves elicit an emotional response, researchers

examined a woman who had completely lost the main subset of nerves

responsible for sensing touch. But a specialized system of her

slow-conducting nerves remained intact.

When the woman's arm was lightly stroked with a soft paintbrush, she could

detect a slight, pleasant sensation. But she could not detect vibration when

it was applied to the same area.

Researchers also used MRI to look at which parts of her brain were stimulated

by the different forms of touch. They found that the pleasant strokes

activated the areas of the brain responsible for processing emotions, which

led them to conclude that these slow-conducting nerve fibers serve as the

sensors for emotional touch.

Their complete report appears in the September issue of Nature Neuroscience