1
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Mello M, Fusaro M, Aglioti SM, Minio-Paluello I. Exploring social touch in autistic and non-autistic adults via a self-report body-painting task: The role of sex, social context and body area. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:1985-2001. [PMID: 38179707 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231218314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT What is already known about the topic?At least in neurotypical individuals, social touch represents an important channel for emotional communication associated with social bonding and pain/anxiety modulation. Autistic adults report to avoid social touch more and to have different tactile sensitivity than their non-autistic comparisons.What this paper adds?Few studies specifically investigated social touch in autistic individuals, and none of them examined the role of participants' sex, social context in which social touch occurs, and specific body areas being touched. In our study, adult participants reported how pleasant, erogenous and appropriate they would consider touches delivered by another person over their entire body in intimate (date), friendly (dance class) and professional (physiotherapy-massage session) social contexts. Autistic adults reported social touch to be less pleasant, erogenous and appropriate specifically in intimate and friendly social contexts and in body areas typically touched in these situations. Importantly, autistic females seem more at risk to experience unpleasant social touch as, although they considered it more unpleasant than non-autistic females and autistic males, they did consider it similarly appropriate in professional social contexts where touch is normed to be socially appropriate.Implications for practice, research or policyOur results might improve awareness and understanding about autistic adults' different, and often more discomforting, experience of social touch and thus help consider and respect it during everyday social interactions. Our results might also benefit future research investigating, for instance, the neural underpinnings of social touch differences in autism or aiming at developing support for autistic individuals seeking help in the diverse spheres of social touch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Mello
- Sapienza University of Rome, and Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
- Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Salvatore Maria Aglioti
- Sapienza University of Rome, and Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
- Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Minio-Paluello
- National Research Council, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Rome, Italy
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2
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Wang C, Xie R, Chen L, Yang X, Yan C. Psychometric evaluation of the Social Touch Questionnaire in Chinese adolescents. Psych J 2024. [PMID: 38965783 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Social touch promotes psychological well-being through inducing positive effects on social affiliation and stress alleviation, especially in adolescence. However, there is a scarcity of instruments available for evaluating adolescents' attitude toward social touch in China. The present study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Social Touch Questionnaire (STQ) in Chinese adolescents. A total of 2839 high school students were enrolled, ranging in age from 11 to 19 years. The dimensions of the scale were conducted by exploratory factor analysis, and validated by confirmatory factor analysis. A three-factor model showed the best fit and consisted of the following subgroups: liking of informal social touch, liking of general social touch, and dislike of social touch. Furthermore, positive associations were found between social touch and interaction anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality. Short-term prediction of dislike of social touch in anxiety symptoms was determined, while no significant predictor of depressive symptoms was found. The STQ demonstrates reliability and validity as a self-report questionnaire designed to assess behaviors and attitudes toward social touch. It effectively adapts to the nuances of the Chinese context among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglei Wang
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Centre, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruyun Xie
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Centre, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Xinhua Yang
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Centre, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE&STCSM), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science of Anhui Province on Adolescent, Mental Health and Crisis Intelligence Intervention, Hefei, China
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3
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Sailer U, Friedrich Y, Asgari F, Hassenzahl M, Croy I. Determinants for positive and negative experiences of interpersonal touch: context matters. Cogn Emot 2024; 38:565-586. [PMID: 38362744 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2311800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The goal of the study was to determine which aspects of interpersonal touch interactions lead to a positive or negative experience. Previous research has focused primarily on physical characteristics. We suggest that this may not be sufficient to fully capture the complexity of the experience. Specifically, we examined how fulfilment of psychological needs influences touch experiences and how this relates to physical touch characteristics and situational factors.In two mixed-method studies, participants described their most positive and most negative interpersonal touch experience within a specific time frame. They reported fulfilment of nine needs, affect, intention, and reason for positivity/negativity, as well as the body part(s) touched, location, type of touch, interaction partner, and particular touch characteristics (e.g. humidity).Positive and negative touch experiences shared similar touch types, locations, and body parts touched, but differed in intended purpose and reasons. Overall, the valence of a touch experience could be predicted from fulfilment of relatedness, the interaction partner and initiator, and physical touch characteristics. Positive affect increased with need fulfilment, and negative affect decreased.The results highlight the importance of relatedness and reciprocity for the valence of touch, and emphasise the need to incorporate psychological needs in touch research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uta Sailer
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Behavioural Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yvonne Friedrich
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Fatemeh Asgari
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Behavioural Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marc Hassenzahl
- Ubiquitous Design / Experience & Interaction, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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4
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Kimoto M, Shiomi M. The experience of a tele-operated avatar being touched increases operator's sense of discomfort. PeerJ Comput Sci 2024; 10:e1926. [PMID: 38660207 PMCID: PMC11042036 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Recent advancements in tele-operated avatars, both on-screen and robotic, have expanded opportunities for human interaction that exceed spatial and physical limitations. While numerous studies have enhanced operator control and improved the impression left on remote users, one area remains underexplored: the experience of operators during touch interactions between an avatar and a remote interlocutor. Touch interactions have become commonplace with avatars, especially those displayed on or integrated with touchscreen interfaces. Although the need for avatars to exhibit human-like touch responses has been recognized as beneficial for maintaining positive impressions on remote users, the sensations and experiences of the operators behind these avatars during such interactions remain largely uninvestigated. This study examines the sensations felt by an operator when their tele-operated avatar is touched remotely. Our findings reveal that operators can perceive a sensation of discomfort when their on-screen avatar is touched. This feeling is intensified when the touch is visualized and the avatar reacts to it. Although these autonomous responses may enhance the human-like perceptions of remote users, they might also lead to operator discomfort. This situation underscores the importance of designing avatars that address the experiences of both remote users and operators. We address this issue by proposing a tele-operated avatar system that minimizes unwarranted touch interactions from unfamiliar interlocutors based on social intimacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masahiro Shiomi
- Interaction Science Laboratories, ATR, Seika-cho, Kyoto, Japan
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5
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Navyte G, Gillmeister H, Kumari M. Interpersonal touch and the importance of romantic partners for older adults' neuroendocrine health. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 159:106414. [PMID: 37866125 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Interpersonal touch is an essential aspect of human interaction that has the ability to regulate physiological stress responses. Prolonged exposure to stress can have cumulative multiphysiological effects; for example, allostatic load. Despite the increased susceptibility of social isolation for older adults, there is a paucity of research on the efficacy of touch in regulating stress responses among this population. It is also unknown whether touch confers benefits regardless of the person with whom it is shared. This study investigates the difference in physiological stress based on the frequency of touch (hugs, holding, or other close physical contact) shared with romantic partners as compared to other close adults (family, friends, and neighbours) in an older adult population. Data were analysed from 1419 respondents (aged 57-85 years) of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) in 2005-2006. Principal components analysis determined whether the eight markers of allostatic load measured in the NSHAP function as a singular system or as distinct components. Analyses revealed three components of allostatic load: metabolic, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine health. The results of multiple regression revealed that a higher frequency of interpersonal touch shared with romantic partners was associated with better neuroendocrine health (β = 0.13, p = 0.004) following adjustment for a variety of covariates (but not with better metabolic or cardiovascular health), with no associations apparent for touch from other close adults. These findings highlight the importance of promoting interpersonal touch with romantic partners for older adults' neuroendocrine health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Navyte
- Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Helge Gillmeister
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Meena Kumari
- Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
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6
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Bellard A, Mathew J, Sun W, Denkow L, Najm A, Michael-Grigoriou D, Trotter P, McGlone F, Fairhurst M, Cazzato V. Topography and relationship-specific social touching in individuals displaying body image disturbances. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13198. [PMID: 37580362 PMCID: PMC10425375 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39484-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Interpersonal touch is intimately related to the emotional bond between the touch giver and the touch receiver. Which bodily regions we touch in those individuals in our social network is relationship specific. Perception of interpersonal touch is altered in psychiatric disorders characterised by body image disturbances (BIDs). Here, we examined whether the 'imagined' experience of social touch in individuals with BIDs is body topography- and relationship-specific. By using an interactive media mobile App, the Virtual Touch Toolkit, high versus low levels of BIDs participants completed heatmaps of full-body virtual avatars, to indicate the body regions they find soothing/unpleasant to be touched by a loved one versus an acquaintance. Self-reports of interoceptive awareness and dysmorphic concerns were also measured. Overall, imagined touch was rated as the most soothing when received from a loved one, and also when this was delivered to 'social' body regions. The importance of the social relationship for the imagined tactile interactions was particularly evident for the high levels of BIDs group, with greater problems with interoceptive awareness predicting higher soothing touch ratings when this was received by a loved one. Despite the evidence that imagined bodily contacts between meaningful people is the most pleasant for socially acceptable bodily regions, our findings may suggest a greater sensitivity to relation-specific bodily patterns of social touch particularly in the high level of BIDs group. Heightened interoceptive awareness may also play a key role in this experience of bodily affective contacts. Future research for body-oriented therapy for BIDs is encouraged to systematically probe the efficacy of imagined social touch interaction protocols which use more plausible, ecological, scenarios where touch is delivered by loved ones and to socially acceptable bodily regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Bellard
- Faculty of Health, Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jyothisa Mathew
- Department of Psychology, Bundeswehr Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Wenhan Sun
- Faculty of Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Munich Center for Neuroscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Linda Denkow
- Department of Psychology, Bundeswehr Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Ali Najm
- GET Lab, Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Despina Michael-Grigoriou
- GET Lab, Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Paula Trotter
- Faculty of Health, Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Francis McGlone
- Institute of Psychology, Health & Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Merle Fairhurst
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Centre for Tactile Internet With Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Valentina Cazzato
- Faculty of Health, Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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7
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Xu S, Xu C, Gerling GJ. Social and Emotional Touch Between Romantic Partners is Affectively More Pleasant Due to Finely Tuned Contact Interactions. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON HAPTICS 2023; 16:449-454. [PMID: 37410650 PMCID: PMC10720212 DOI: 10.1109/toh.2023.3293070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Our daily observations tell us that the delivery of social sentiments and emotions differs between strangers and romantic partners. This work explores how relationship status influences our delivery and perception of social touches and emotions, by evaluating the physics of contact interactions. In a study with human participants, strangers and romantically involved touchers delivered emotional messages to receivers' forearms. Physical contact interactions were measured using a customized 3D tracking system. The results indicate that strangers and romantic receivers recognize emotional messages with similar accuracy, but with higher levels of valence and arousal between romantic partners. Further investigation into the contact interactions which underlie the higher levels of valence and arousal reveals that a toucher tunes their strategy with their romantic partner. For example, when stroking, romantic touchers use velocities preferential to C-tactile afferents, and maintain contact for longer durations with larger contact areas. Notwithstanding, while we show that relationship intimacy influences the deployment of touch strategies, such impact is relatively subtle compared to distinctions between gestures, emotional messages, and individual preferences.
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8
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Oya R, Tanaka A. Touch and voice have different advantages in perceiving positive and
negative emotions. Iperception 2023; 14:20416695231160420. [PMID: 36968320 PMCID: PMC10031610 DOI: 10.1177/20416695231160420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has revealed that several emotions can be perceived via touch.
What advantages does touch have over other nonverbal communication channels? In
our study, we compared the perception of emotions from touch with that from
voice to examine the advantages of each channel at the emotional valence level.
In our experiment, the encoder expressed 12 different emotions by touching the
decoder's arm or uttering a syllable /e/, and the decoder judged the emotion.
The results showed that the categorical average accuracy of negative emotions
was higher for voice than for touch, whereas that of positive emotions was
marginally higher for touch than for voice. These results suggest that different
channels (touch and voice) have different advantages for the perception of
positive and negative emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rika Oya
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences,
Tokyo Woman's Christian University, Tokyo, Japan;
Japan
Society for the Promotion of
Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Tanaka
- Akihiro Tanaka, Department of Psychology,
Tokyo Woman's Christian University 2-6-1 Zempukuji, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 167-8585,
Japan.
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9
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Fini C, Bardi L, Bolis D, Fusaro M, Lisi MP, Michalland AH, Era V. The social roots of self development: from a bodily to an intellectual interpersonal dialogue. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023:10.1007/s00426-022-01785-6. [PMID: 36595049 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01785-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we propose that interpersonal bodily interactions represent a fertile ground in which the bodily and psychological self is developed, gradually allowing for forms of more abstract and disembodied interactions. We start by focusing on how early infant-caregiver bodily interactions play a crucial role in shaping the boundaries of the self but also in learning to predict others' behavior. We then explore the social function of the sense of touch in the entire life span, highlighting its role in promoting physical and psychological well-being by supporting positive interpersonal exchanges. We go on by introducing the concept of implicit theory of mind, as the early ability to interpret others' intentions, possibly grounded in infant-caregiver bodily exchanges (embodied practices). In the following part, we consider so-called higher level forms of social interaction: intellectual exchanges among individuals. In this regard, we defend the view that, beside the apparent private dimension of "thinking abstractly", using abstract concepts is intrinsically a social process, as it entails the re-enactment of the internalized dialogue through which we acquired the concepts in the first place. Finally, we describe how the hypothesis of "dialectical attunement" may explain the development of abstract thinking: to effectively transform the world according to their survival needs, individuals co-construct structured concepts of it; by doing so, humans fundamentally transform not merely the world they are being in, but their being in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Fini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Lara Bardi
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience Marc Jeannerod, CNRS/UMR 5229, Bron, France.,Université Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Dimitris Bolis
- Independent Max Planck Research Group for Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry,Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, 80804, Muenchen-Schwabing, Germany.,Centre for Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki, 444-0867, Japan
| | | | - Matteo P Lisi
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia (IIT), Sapienza University of Rome and Center for Life Nano- & Neuroscience, Rome, Italy
| | - Arthur Henri Michalland
- Department of Psychology, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier, EPSYLON EA 4556, 34199, Montpellier, France.,University of Montpellier - LIFAM, Montpellier, France
| | - Vanessa Era
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia (IIT), Sapienza University of Rome and Center for Life Nano- & Neuroscience, Rome, Italy
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10
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Dunbar RIM. Laughter and its role in the evolution of human social bonding. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210176. [PMID: 36126664 PMCID: PMC9489299 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In anthropoid primates, social grooming is the principal mechanism (mediated by the central nervous system endorphin system) that underpins social bonding. However, the time available for social grooming is limited, and this imposes an upper limit on the size of group that can be bonded in this way. I suggest that, when hominins needed to increase the size of their groups beyond the limit that could be bonded by grooming, they co-opted laughter (a modified version of the play vocalization found widely among the catarrhine primates) as a form of chorusing to fill the gap. I show, first, that human laughter both upregulates the brain's endorphin system and increases the sense of bonding between those who laugh together. I then use a reverse engineering approach to model group sizes and grooming time requirements for fossil hominin species to search for pinch points where a phase shift in bonding mechanisms might have occurred. The results suggest that the most likely time for the origin of human-like laughter is the appearance of the genus Homo ca 2.5 Ma. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cracking the laugh code: laughter through the lens of biology, psychology and neuroscience'.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. I. M. Dunbar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
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11
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Bzdok D, Dunbar RIM. Social isolation and the brain in the pandemic era. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1333-1343. [PMID: 36258130 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01453-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Intense sociality has been a catalyst for human culture and civilization, and our social relationships at a personal level play a pivotal role in our health and well-being. These relationships are, however, sensitive to the time we invest in them. To understand how and why this should be, we first outline the evolutionary background in primate sociality from which our human social world has emerged. We then review defining features of that human sociality, putting forward a framework within which one can understand the consequences of mass social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, including mental health deterioration, stress, sleep disturbance and substance misuse. We outline recent research on the neural basis of prolonged social isolation, highlighting especially higher-order neural circuits such as the default mode network. Our survey of studies covers the negative effects of prolonged social deprivation and the multifaceted drivers of day-to-day pandemic experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Bzdok
- The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McConnell Brain-Imaging Centre (BIC), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Robin I M Dunbar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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12
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McIntyre S, Hauser SC, Kusztor A, Boehme R, Moungou A, Isager PM, Homman L, Novembre G, Nagi SS, Israr A, Lumpkin EA, Abnousi F, Gerling GJ, Olausson H. The Language of Social Touch Is Intuitive and Quantifiable. Psychol Sci 2022; 33:1477-1494. [PMID: 35942875 DOI: 10.1177/09567976211059801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Touch is a powerful communication tool, but we have a limited understanding of the role played by particular physical features of interpersonal touch communication. In this study, adults living in Sweden performed a task in which messages (attention, love, happiness, calming, sadness, and gratitude) were conveyed by a sender touching the forearm of a receiver, who interpreted the messages. Two experiments (N = 32, N = 20) showed that within close relationships, receivers could identify the intuitive touch expressions of the senders, and we characterized the physical features of the touches associated with successful communication. Facial expressions measured with electromyography varied by message but were uncorrelated with communication performance. We developed standardized touch expressions and quantified the physical features with 3D hand tracking. In two further experiments (N = 20, N = 16), these standardized expressions were conveyed by trained senders and were readily understood by strangers unacquainted with the senders. Thus, the possibility emerges of a standardized, intuitively understood language of social touch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah McIntyre
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
| | - Steven C Hauser
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
| | - Anikó Kusztor
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
| | - Rebecca Boehme
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
| | - Athanasia Moungou
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
| | - Peder Mortvedt Isager
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
| | - Lina Homman
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
| | - Giovanni Novembre
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
| | - Saad S Nagi
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
| | | | - Ellen A Lumpkin
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University
| | | | | | - Håkan Olausson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University
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13
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Abstract
Abstract
Loneliness is an increasingly ubiquitous topic in academic, policy, and healthcare domains. This work typically focuses on its negative physical and mental health consequences, generally employing a singular cognitive definition of loneliness. In doing so, one central aspect of our social world has been neglected in loneliness research and policy: touch. Touch is a fundamental human behaviour and a powerful form of communication which plays a role in physical and psychological wellbeing. This narrative review outlines a conceptual basis upon which to consider the relationship between loneliness and social touch and reviews the available research examining this connection. There are strong indications that these social phenomena can interact in a variety of ways and this review argues that elements of presence, absence, and type of touch may impact upon loneliness experiences. Additionally, this review considers the challenges inherent to researching touch and loneliness, reflecting on their sensitive and subjective nature. The increasing relevance of the touch–loneliness connection is described in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations are given for research, policy, and practice. This review proposes that touch should be a key topic for investigation in loneliness research and outlines the potentially invaluable role of touch in understanding loneliness.
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14
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Vafeiadou A, Bowling NC, Hammond C, Banissy MJ. Assessing individual differences in attitudes towards touch in treatment settings: Introducing the touch & health scale. Health Psychol Open 2022; 9:20551029221137008. [DOI: 10.1177/20551029221137008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals commonly receive touch in treatment settings, but there is limited research on how they perceive it. The current project sought to address this gap by: 1) developing the Touch & Health Scale (THS) - a novel instrument to measure attitudes to touch in treatment settings 2) assessing inter-individual differences in THS scores, and 3) examining the association between individuals’ THS scores and wellbeing. Data of a large U.K. adults sample ( N > 12,000) were used. THS showed Cronbach’s α between 0.636 and 0.816 and significant correlations ( p < 0.001) with day-to-day attitudes to touch. THS scores differed as a function of extraversion and avoidant attachment style. Participants with more positive attitudes to touch in treatment settings showed greater wellbeing. Overall, the study highlights the importance of a personalised approach to touch in treatment settings and provides a new scale that may act as a screening tool for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael J Banissy
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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15
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Schirmer A, Cham C, Zhao Z, Croy I. What Makes Touch Comfortable? An Examination of Touch Giving and Receiving in Two Cultures. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2022:1461672221105966. [PMID: 35769027 DOI: 10.1177/01461672221105966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study examined how touch role and culture shape affective touch experiences. Germans (N = 130) and Chinese (N = 130) were surveyed once as toucher and once as touchee. For different touch actions, they (a) provided free-text descriptions of what prompts touch, (b) indicated with whom touch feels comfortable, and (c) highlighted areas of touch comfort on a body outline. Overall, touch was prompted by affectionate feelings, was more comfortable with more closely bonded individuals, and when directed at the upper arms, shoulders, and upper back. Touch role mattered for the experiences prompting touch in that touchees felt less positive than touchers. Culture differentiated touch comfort topographies. Compared with Chinese, Germans felt more comfortable with more intimate touch to the torso and upper back and less comfortable with more public touch to the hands. Notably, however, examining touch role and culture revealed more overlap than divergence, ensuring mutual comfort as individuals physically connect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clare Cham
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Zihao Zhao
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Ilona Croy
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
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16
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Xu S, Xu C, McIntyre S, Olausson H, Gerling GJ. 3D Visual Tracking to Quantify Physical Contact Interactions in Human-to-Human Touch. Front Physiol 2022; 13:841938. [PMID: 35755449 PMCID: PMC9219726 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.841938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Across a plethora of social situations, we touch others in natural and intuitive ways to share thoughts and emotions, such as tapping to get one's attention or caressing to soothe one's anxiety. A deeper understanding of these human-to-human interactions will require, in part, the precise measurement of skin-to-skin physical contact. Among prior efforts, each measurement approach exhibits certain constraints, e.g., motion trackers do not capture the precise shape of skin surfaces, while pressure sensors impede skin-to-skin contact. In contrast, this work develops an interference-free 3D visual tracking system using a depth camera to measure the contact attributes between the bare hand of a toucher and the forearm of a receiver. The toucher's hand is tracked as a posed and positioned mesh by fitting a hand model to detected 3D hand joints, whereas a receiver's forearm is extracted as a 3D surface updated upon repeated skin contact. Based on a contact model involving point clouds, the spatiotemporal changes of hand-to-forearm contact are decomposed as six, high-resolution, time-series contact attributes, i.e., contact area, indentation depth, absolute velocity, and three orthogonal velocity components, together with contact duration. To examine the system's capabilities and limitations, two types of experiments were performed. First, to evaluate its ability to discern human touches, one person delivered cued social messages, e.g., happiness, anger, sympathy, to another person using their preferred gestures. The results indicated that messages and gestures, as well as the identities of the touchers, were readily discerned from their contact attributes. Second, the system's spatiotemporal accuracy was validated against measurements from independent devices, including an electromagnetic motion tracker, sensorized pressure mat, and laser displacement sensor. While validated here in the context of social communication, this system is extendable to human touch interactions such as maternal care of infants and massage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Xu
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Chang Xu
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Sarah McIntyre
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Håkan Olausson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Gregory J. Gerling
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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17
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Morese R, Longobardi C. The Impact of Physical Distancing in the Pandemic Situation: Considering the Role of Loneliness and Social Brain. Front Psychol 2022; 13:861329. [PMID: 35386900 PMCID: PMC8978441 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.861329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The new normal has made social distancing a new way of experiencing sociality. Social neuroscience has for a long time been concerned with studying the beneficial effects of social relationships, of physical contact. It is known that physical contact activates neurophysiological processes that reduce the perception of discomfort and even physical pain. So in the absence of physical contact, our social brain may be modulated differently when we are with others. But what could be the long-term effects of this normality? This mini-review focuses on highlighting with the support of social neuroscience evidence such as isolation, distancing can affect people’s health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalba Morese
- Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
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18
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19
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Jolink TA, Chang YP, Algoe SB. Perceived Partner Responsiveness Forecasts Behavioral Intimacy as Measured by Affectionate Touch. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2022; 48:203-221. [PMID: 33736544 PMCID: PMC8801651 DOI: 10.1177/0146167221993349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Affectionate touch is an important behavior in close relationships throughout the lifespan. Research has investigated the relational and individual psychological and physical benefits of affectionate touch, but the situational factors that give rise to it have been overlooked. Theorizing from the interpersonal process model of intimacy, the current studies tested whether perceived partner responsiveness forecasts affectionate touch in romantic couples. Following a preliminary integrative data analysis (N = 842), three prospective studies use ecologically valid behavioral (Studies 1 and 2) and daily (Studies 2 and 3) data, showing a positive association between perceived partner responsiveness and affectionate touch. Furthermore, in Study 3, we tested a theoretical extension of the interpersonal process of intimacy, finding that affectionate touch forecasts the partner's perception of the touch-giver's responsiveness the next day. Findings suggest affectionate touch may be an untested mechanism at the heart of the interpersonal process of intimacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sara B. Algoe
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
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20
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Physical correlates of human-like softness elicit high tactile pleasantness. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16510. [PMID: 34389767 PMCID: PMC8363669 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96044-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Touching an object can elicit affective sensations. Because these sensations are critical for social interaction, tactile preferences may be adapted to the characteristics of the human body. We have previously shown that compliance, a physical correlate of softness, increased the tactile pleasantness of a deformable surface. However, the extent to which object compliance similar to the human body elicits tactile pleasantness remains unknown. We addressed this question by using a wide range of compliances and by measuring the distribution of compliance of human body parts. The participants numerically estimated the perceived pleasantness or softness while pushing tactile stimuli with their right index fingers. The perceived softness monotonically increased with increasing compliance and then leveled off around the end of the stimulus range. By contrast, pleasantness showed an inverse U pattern as a function of compliance, reaching the maximum between 5 and 7 mm/N. This range of compliance was within that for both hand and arm. These results indicate that objects with similar compliance levels as those of human body parts yield the highest pleasantness when pushing them.
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21
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Dunbar RIM, Frangou A, Grainger F, Pearce E. Laughter influences social bonding but not prosocial generosity to friends and strangers. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256229. [PMID: 34388212 PMCID: PMC8362988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans deploy a number of specific behaviours for forming social bonds, one of which is laughter. However, two questions have not yet been investigated with respect to laughter: (1) Does laughter increase the sense of bonding to those with whom we laugh? and (2) Does laughter facilitate prosocial generosity? Using changes in pain threshold as a proxy for endorphin upregulation in the brain and a standard economic game (the Dictator Game) as an assay of prosociality, we show that laughter does trigger the endorphin system and, through that, seems to enhance social bonding, but it does not reliably influence donations to others. This suggests that social bonding and prosociality may operate via different mechanisms, or on different time scales, and relate to different functional objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. I. M. Dunbar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Frangou
- Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Felix Grainger
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eiluned Pearce
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Sumioka H, Shiomi M, Honda M, Nakazawa A. Technical Challenges for Smooth Interaction With Seniors With Dementia: Lessons From Humanitude™. Front Robot AI 2021; 8:650906. [PMID: 34150858 PMCID: PMC8207295 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2021.650906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to cognitive and socio-emotional decline and mental diseases, senior citizens, especially people with dementia (PwD), struggle to interact smoothly with their caregivers. Therefore, various care techniques have been proposed to develop good relationships with seniors. Among them, Humanitude is one promising technique that provides caregivers with useful interaction skills to improve their relationships with PwD, from four perspectives: face-to-face interaction, verbal communication, touch interaction, and helping care receivers stand up (physical interaction). Regardless of advances in elderly care techniques, since current social robots interact with seniors in the same manner as they do with younger adults, they lack several important functions. For example, Humanitude emphasizes the importance of interaction at a relatively intimate distance to facilitate communication with seniors. Unfortunately, few studies have developed an interaction model for clinical care communication. In this paper, we discuss the current challenges to develop a social robot that can smoothly interact with PwDs and overview the interaction skills used in Humanitude as well as the existing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenobu Sumioka
- Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shiomi
- Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Miwako Honda
- National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
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23
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Fusaro M, Lisi MP, Tieri G, Aglioti SM. Heterosexual, gay, and lesbian people's reactivity to virtual caresses on their embodied avatars' taboo zones. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2221. [PMID: 33500486 PMCID: PMC7838160 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81168-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Embodying an artificial agent through immersive virtual reality (IVR) may lead to feeling vicariously somatosensory stimuli on one's body which are in fact never delivered. To explore whether vicarious touch in IVR reflects the basic individual and social features of real-life interpersonal interactions we tested heterosexual men/women and gay men/lesbian women reacting subjectively and physiologically to the observation of a gender-matched virtual body being touched on intimate taboo zones (like genitalia) by male and female avatars. All participants rated as most erogenous caresses on their embodied avatar taboo zones. Crucially, heterosexual men/women and gay men/lesbian women rated as most erogenous taboo touches delivered by their opposite and same gender avatar, respectively. Skin conductance was maximal when taboo touches were delivered by female avatars. Our study shows that IVR may trigger realistic experiences and ultimately allow the direct exploration of sensitive societal and individual issues that can otherwise be explored only through imagination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Fusaro
- Sapienza, Università degli Studi di Roma & CLNS@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy.
- Social Neuroscience Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
| | - Matteo P Lisi
- Sapienza, Università degli Studi di Roma & CLNS@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
- Social Neuroscience Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano Tieri
- Social Neuroscience Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- Virtual Reality Lab, University of Rome Unitelma Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Maria Aglioti
- Sapienza, Università degli Studi di Roma & CLNS@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy.
- Social Neuroscience Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
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24
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Portnova GV, Proskurnina EV, Sokolova SV, Skorokhodov IV, Varlamov AA. Perceived pleasantness of gentle touch in healthy individuals is related to salivary oxytocin response and EEG markers of arousal. Exp Brain Res 2020; 238:2257-2268. [PMID: 32719908 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05891-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Affective touch plays an important role in human social bonding, affiliative behavior, and in general emotional well-being. A system of unmyelinated low-threshold mechanosensitive C-type afferents innervating hairy skin (C-tactile or CT system) is postulated to provide the neurophysiological background of affective touch perception. C-tactile afferents respond optimally to soft and slow strokes, and this response correlates positively with pleasure ratings of tactile stimuli. As gentle touch is consistently associated with oxytocin release further promoting prosocial behavior, it has been suggested that this effect is mediated by the response of C-tactile afferents. This study assesses a possible link between CT-optimal touch, its subjective pleasantness, EEG indices of cortical arousal, and peripheral oxytocin response. EEG was recorded in 28 healthy volunteers during resting state and tactile stimulation[gentle slow brush strokes on forearm (CT-targeted touch) and palm (non-CT-targeted touch)]. Saliva samples were collected before and after the touch stimulation. Oxytocin concentration increase was significantly associated with greater subjective ratings of CT-targeted touch but not of non-CT-targeted touch, and with lower peak alpha frequency values indicating decreased cortical arousal. The findings suggest that CT-targeted stimulation triggers oxytocin release but only when the touch is perceived at an individual level as having clearly positive affective salience. This corresponds to previous studies reporting that oxytocin response to touch can be related to different personality factors, and bears important implications for planning touch-based interventions in social and medical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina V Portnova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 5A Butlerova St, Moscow, 117485, Russia.
- Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | - Svetlana V Sokolova
- Medical Research and Educational Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan V Skorokhodov
- Rehabilitation Center for Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorders "OUR SUNNY WORLD" (Non-Government, Non-Profit Organization), Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton A Varlamov
- Rehabilitation Center for Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorders "OUR SUNNY WORLD" (Non-Government, Non-Profit Organization), Moscow, Russia
- Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, Moscow, Russia
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25
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Suvilehto JT, Renvall V, Nummenmaa L. Relationship-specific Encoding of Social Touch in Somatosensory and Insular Cortices. Neuroscience 2020; 464:105-116. [PMID: 32931848 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Humans use touch to maintain their social relationships, and the emotional qualities of touch depend on who touches whom. However, it is not known how affective and social dimensions of touch are processed in the brain. We measured haemodynamic brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) from 19 subjects (10 males), while they were touched on their upper thigh by either their romantic partner, or an unfamiliar female or male confederate or saw the hand of one of these individuals near their upper thigh but were not touched. We used multi-voxel pattern analysis on pre-defined regions of interest to reveal areas that encode social touch in a relationship-specific manner. The accuracy of the machine learning classifier to identify actor for both feeling touch and seeing hand exceeded the chance level in the primary somatosensory cortex, while in the insular cortex accuracy was above chance level only for the touch condition. When classifying the relationship (partner or stranger), while keeping the toucher sex fixed, amygdala (AMYG), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and primary and secondary somatosensory cortices were able to discriminate toucher significantly above chance level. These results suggest that information on the social relationship of the toucher is processed consistently across several regions. More complex information about toucher identity is processed in the primary somatosensory and insular cortices, both of which can be considered early sensory areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juulia T Suvilehto
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland; Aalto NeuroImaging, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland; Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Ville Renvall
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Lauri Nummenmaa
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, FI-20521 Turku, Finland; Department of Psychology, University of Turku, FI-20500 Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, FI-20521 Turku, Finland
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26
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Bzdok D, Dunbar RIM. The Neurobiology of Social Distance. Trends Cogn Sci 2020; 24:717-733. [PMID: 32561254 PMCID: PMC7266757 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Never before have we experienced social isolation on such a massive scale as we have in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, we know that the social environment has a dramatic impact on our sense of life satisfaction and well-being. In times of distress, crisis, or disaster, human resilience depends on the richness and strength of social connections, as well as on active engagement in groups and communities. Over recent years, evidence emerging from various disciplines has made it abundantly clear: perceived social isolation (i.e., loneliness) may be the most potent threat to survival and longevity. We highlight the benefits of social bonds, the choreographies of bond creation and maintenance, as well as the neurocognitive basis of social isolation and its deep consequences for mental and physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Bzdok
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (BIC), Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute (Mila), Montreal, Canada.
| | - Robin I M Dunbar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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27
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Dunbar RIM. Structure and function in human and primate social networks: implications for diffusion, network stability and health. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci 2020; 476:20200446. [PMID: 32922160 PMCID: PMC7482201 DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2020.0446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The human social world is orders of magnitude smaller than our highly urbanized world might lead us to suppose. In addition, human social networks have a very distinct fractal structure similar to that observed in other primates. In part, this reflects a cognitive constraint, and in part a time constraint, on the capacity for interaction. Structured networks of this kind have a significant effect on the rates of transmission of both disease and information. Because the cognitive mechanism underpinning network structure is based on trust, internal and external threats that undermine trust or constrain interaction inevitably result in the fragmentation and restructuring of networks. In contexts where network sizes are smaller, this is likely to have significant impacts on psychological and physical health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. I. M. Dunbar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, New Radcliffe Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX1 6GG, UK
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28
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Pasqualotto A, Ng M, Tan ZY, Kitada R. Tactile perception of pleasantness in relation to perceived softness. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11189. [PMID: 32636415 PMCID: PMC7341757 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68034-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The sense of touch allows us to infer objects’ physical properties, while the same input also produces affective sensations. These affective sensations are important for interpersonal relationships and personal well-being, which raises the possibility that tactile preferences are adapted to the characteristics of the skin. Previous studies examined how physical properties such as surface roughness and temperature influence affective sensations; however, little is known about the effect of compliance (physical correlate of softness) on pleasantness. Thus, we investigated the psychophysical link between softness and pleasantness. Pieces of human skin-like rubber with different compliances were pressed against participants’ fingers. Two groups of participants numerically estimated the perceived magnitude of either pleasantness or softness. The perceived magnitude of pleasantness and softness both increased monotonically as a function of increasing object compliance, levelling off at around the end of the stimulus range. However, inter-subject variability was greater for pleasantness than for perceived softness, whereas the slope of the linear function fit to the magnitude estimates was steeper for softness than for pleasantness. These results indicate that object compliance is a critical physical determinant for pleasantness, whereas the effect of compliance on pleasantness was more variable among individuals than the effect on softness was.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achille Pasqualotto
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia.,Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639818, Singapore
| | - Megan Ng
- Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639818, Singapore
| | - Zheng Yee Tan
- Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639818, Singapore
| | - Ryo Kitada
- Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639818, Singapore.
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29
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Heatley Tejada A, Dunbar RIM, Montero M. Physical Contact and Loneliness: Being Touched Reduces Perceptions of Loneliness. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 6:292-306. [PMID: 32837856 PMCID: PMC7250541 DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00138-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Objective This article addresses the connection between loneliness and physical contact. Evolutionary and psychological research has shown that touch is an important part of bond-building and emotion communication; loneliness is intimately related to these elements as well. In this paper, we ask whether physical contact reduces feelings of loneliness —which might derive from evolutionary ancient bonding mechanisms—despite a cultural context that is relatively non-tactile. Method An experimental study (40 participants, 13 males) tested for observable effects of touch on loneliness scores in a low-contact culture to analyse whether they respond positively to that stimulus despite cultural training against it. Results Participants exposed to physical contact reported significantly lower neglect scores from their close relationships in a short loneliness scale, thus suggesting that there is an underlying mechanism that persists despite enculturation. The effects were particularly strong among single people, which could mean that lower loneliness among married people might be partly explained by the regular availability of physical contact. Participants in the experimental condition also showed a faster reduction in heart rate, interpreted as a sign of physiological wellbeing. Conclusions These findings help to specify mechanisms within the evolutionary theoretical framework of loneliness that link internal feelings to environmental cues. This article aims at contributing to a more complex discussion on the interactions between emotions, cultural practices and psychological well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Heatley Tejada
- Inter-American Conference on Social Security, San Ramón s/n, Col. San Jerónimo Lídice, 10200 CDMX, Mexico
| | - R I M Dunbar
- University of Oxford, New Radcliffe Building, Oxford, OX2 6GG UK
| | - M Montero
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Psicología, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 CDMX, Mexico
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30
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Suvilehto JT, Nummenmaa L, Harada T, Dunbar RIM, Hari R, Turner R, Sadato N, Kitada R. Cross-cultural similarity in relationship-specific social touching. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20190467. [PMID: 31014213 PMCID: PMC6501924 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Many species use touching for reinforcing social structures, and particularly, non-human primates use social grooming for managing their social networks. However, it is still unclear how social touch contributes to the maintenance and reinforcement of human social networks. Human studies in Western cultures suggest that the body locations where touch is allowed are associated with the strength of the emotional bond between the person touched and the toucher. However, it is unknown to what extent this relationship is culturally universal and generalizes to non-Western cultures. Here, we compared relationship-specific, bodily touch allowance maps across one Western (N = 386, UK) and one East Asian (N = 255, Japan) country. In both cultures, the strength of the emotional bond was linearly associated with permissible touch area. However, Western participants experienced social touching as more pleasurable than Asian participants. These results indicate a similarity of emotional bonding via social touch between East Asian and Western cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juulia T Suvilehto
- 1 Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University , Espoo , Finland.,4 Turku PET Centre, University of Turku , Turku , Finland
| | - Lauri Nummenmaa
- 4 Turku PET Centre, University of Turku , Turku , Finland.,5 Department of Psychology, University of Turku , Turku , Finland
| | - Tokiko Harada
- 6 Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Robin I M Dunbar
- 2 Department of Computer Science, Aalto University , Espoo , Finland.,7 Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Riitta Hari
- 3 Department of Art, Aalto University , Espoo , Finland
| | - Robert Turner
- 8 Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences , Leipzig , Germany
| | - Norihiro Sadato
- 9 National Institute for Physiological Sciences , Okazaki , Japan
| | - Ryo Kitada
- 10 Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University , 14 Nanyang Avenue, 637332 Singapore
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Renvall V, Kauramäki J, Malinen S, Hari R, Nummenmaa L. Imaging Real-Time Tactile Interaction With Two-Person Dual-Coil fMRI. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:279. [PMID: 32411021 PMCID: PMC7198901 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of brain mechanisms supporting social interaction are demanding because real interaction only occurs when persons are in contact. Instead, most brain imaging studies scan subjects individually. Here we present a proof-of-concept demonstration of two-person blood oxygenation dependent (BOLD) imaging of brain activity from two individuals interacting inside the bore of a single MRI scanner. We developed a custom 16-channel (8 + 8 channels) two-helmet coil with two separate receiver-coil pairs providing whole-brain coverage, while bringing participants into a shared physical space and realistic face-to-face contact. Ten subject pairs were scanned with the setup. During the experiment, subjects took turns in tapping each other's lip versus observing and feeling the taps timed by auditory instructions. Networks of sensorimotor brain areas were engaged alternatingly in the subjects during executing motor actions as well as observing and feeling them; these responses were clearly distinguishable from the auditory responses occurring similarly in both participants. Even though the signal-to-noise ratio of our coil system was compromised compared with standard 32-channel head coils, our results show that the two-person fMRI scanning is feasible for studying the brain basis of social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ville Renvall
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland.,Advanced Magnetic Imaging Centre, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kauramäki
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Sanna Malinen
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Riitta Hari
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland.,Department of Art, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Espoo, Finland
| | - Lauri Nummenmaa
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland.,Turku PET Centre and Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Russo V, Ottaviani C, Spitoni GF. Affective touch: A meta-analysis on sex differences. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 108:445-452. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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