Oxytocin and vasopressin are peptide hormones secreted from the pituitary that are well
known for their peripheral endocrine effects on childbirth/nursing and blood pressure/urine …

Although the manifestation of trauma in the body is a phenomenon well-endorsed by
clinicians and traumatized individuals, the neurobiological underpinnings of this …

Sleep disturbances frequently occur in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, but
the developmental role of sleep is largely unexplored, and a causal relationship between …

An obvious consequence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is the worldwide
reduction in social interaction, which is associated with many adverse effects on health in …

Many social behaviours are evolutionarily conserved and are essential for the healthy
development of an individual. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is crucial for the fine-tuned …

Pleasurable touch is paramount during social behavior, including sexual encounters.
However, the identity and precise role of sensory neurons that transduce sexual touch …

Pleasant touch provides emotional and psychological support that helps mitigate social
isolation and stress. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using …

Receiving touch is of critical importance, as many studies have shown that touch promotes
mental and physical well-being. We conducted a pre-registered (PROSPERO …

Social touch—the affiliative skin-to-skin contact between individuals—can rapidly evoke
emotions of comfort, pleasure, or calm, and is essential for mental and physical well-being …

Comforting is a crucial form of prosocial behavior that is important for maintaining social
unity and improving the physical and emotional well-being of social species. It is often …