Small everyday gestures such as a tap on the shoulder can affect the way humans feel and
act. Touch can have a calming effect and alter the way stress is handled, thereby promoting …

Since their initial discovery in cats, low-threshold C-fiber mechanoreceptors have become a
central interest of scientists studying the affective aspects of touch. Their pursuit in humans …

Social touch has positive effects on social affiliation and stress alleviation. However, its
ubiquitous presence in human life does not allow the study of social touch deprivation 'in the …

The pleasantness of gentle stroking (CT-targeted touch) varies highly between individuals
and studies, indicating that relevant factors may not be accounted for. We propose that the …

Highlights•Social, affective regulation, including through touch, is multidimensional.•Social
touch appears to have three interrelated functions in affective regulation.•Social touch …

During infancy relational experiences of body-to-body exchanges (ie, embodied
interactions) contribute to the infant's bodily perception. Early embodied interactions are …

A growing body of evidence from the behavioural and neural sciences indicates that social
touch has a vital role in human development and psychological well-being. Despite some …

The unmyelinated C-tactile afferents system holds a hedonic function in touch experiences,
shaping social functioning in the so-called affective touch hypothesis. Despite the fact that …

Interpersonal touch and affective touch play a crucial role in social interactions and have a
positive influence on mental health. The social distancing regulations implemented during …

Many studies have investigated the perception of tactile pleasantness over a range of
stroking velocities. On average, pleasantness is low at slow (eg 0.3 cm/s) and fast (eg 30 …