All articles tagged with #touch
A study shows that the human brain synchronizes more accurately with musical rhythm through sound than touch, as auditory cues produce beat-like neural patterns that facilitate movement, whereas tactile cues lead to less precise synchronization, highlighting the unique role of hearing in rhythm perception.
A review of 212 studies has confirmed that hugs and other forms of physical touch can help reduce feelings of pain, depression, and anxiety in both children and adults. The type of touch doesn't seem to matter much, but touching on the head or face appears to work best, and shorter, more frequent touches elicit more positive reactions. While touches from inanimate objects can help with physical health, touches from humans and animals are more beneficial for mental health. The study emphasizes the importance of consensual touch and highlights the significant positive influence of touch, especially in newborns when it comes from a parent.
Ishmail Abdus-Saboor, a neuroscientist at Columbia University, is leading research into the perception of pleasurable and painful touches, aiming to understand how the brain determines whether a touch to the skin is painful or pleasurable. His work has led to insights into the neural circuits that govern pleasure and pain in animals, as well as the development of new measurement tools for quantifying pain and pleasure in lab animals. Abdus-Saboor's research also explores the potential medical implications of targeting the skin for therapeutic purposes and the study of touch in naked mole rats. Throughout his career, he has faced challenges but encourages aspiring scientists, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue their passion and not to be discouraged by obstacles.
A study from The University of Texas at Austin reveals that toddlers prompted to touch their own faces through vibrating discs developed self-recognition in mirrors about two months earlier than expected, challenging the belief that self-recognition is hardwired and suggesting it's influenced by sensory experiences. The findings emphasize the importance of self-directed exploration for self-knowledge and could reshape interventions for children with motor development delays.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown way that humans feel touch. Cells within the outer layer of hair follicles can detect touch and release neurotransmitters that activate nearby sensory neurons, which relay information to the brain. This expands the known ways humans sense touch and may have implications for understanding skin diseases such as eczema. The research is still in its early stages, but it could open up new therapeutic avenues.
The hormone oxytocin, which is linked to touch and social bonding, is influenced by the situation and context in which it is experienced, according to a study by researchers at Linköping University and the University of Skövde in Sweden. The study found that oxytocin levels increased when a woman's partner touched her arm, but only if he was the first to do so. The hormone's effects were linked to activity in regions of the brain important for contextualizing events. The findings suggest that context matters when providing synthetic oxytocin as part of the treatment of mood-affecting conditions.