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Gorman L, Sun W, Mathew J, Rezazadeh Z, Sulik J, Fairhurst M, Deroy O. Choice enhances touch pleasantness. Atten Percept Psychophys 2024:10.3758/s13414-024-02887-6. [PMID: 38858303 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-024-02887-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
We value what we choose more than what is imposed upon us. Choice-induced preferences are extensively demonstrated using behavioural and neural methods, mainly involving rewarding objects such as money or material goods. However, the impact of choice on experiences, especially in the realm of affective touch, remains less explored. In this study, we specifically investigate whether choice can enhance the pleasure derived from affective touch, thereby increasing its intrinsic rewarding value. We conducted an experiment in which participants were being touched by an experimenter and asked to rate how pleasant their experience of touch was. They were given either a choice or no choice over certain touch stimulus variables which differed in their relevance: some were of low relevance (relating to the colour of the glove that the experimenter would use to touch them), while others were of high relevance (relating to the location on their arm where they would be stroked). Before and during touching, pupillometry was used to measure the level of arousal. We found that having a choice over aspects of tactile stimuli-especially those relevant to oneself-enhanced the pleasant perception of the touch. In addition, having a choice increases arousal in anticipation of touch. Regardless of how relevant it is to the actual tactile stimulus, allowing one to choose may positively enhance a person's perception of the physical contact they receive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Gorman
- Cognition, Values, Behaviour Lab, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Chair of Philosophy of Mind, Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Studies, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Wenhan Sun
- Cognition, Values, Behaviour Lab, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), 6G Life, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
- Chair of Acoustics and Haptics, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jyothisa Mathew
- Institute for Psychology, General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Zahra Rezazadeh
- Faculty of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Justin Sulik
- Cognition, Values, Behaviour Lab, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Merle Fairhurst
- Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), 6G Life, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
- Chair of Acoustics and Haptics, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ophelia Deroy
- Cognition, Values, Behaviour Lab, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Chair of Philosophy of Mind, Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Studies, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Center for Neuroscience, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK
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Ten Brink AF, Heiner I, Dijkerman HC, Strauch C. Pupil dilation reveals the intensity of touch. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14538. [PMID: 38362931 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14538] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Touch is important for many aspects of our daily activities. One of the most important tactile characteristics is its perceived intensity. However, quantifying the intensity of perceived tactile stimulation is not always possible using overt responses. Here, we show that pupil responses can objectively index the intensity of tactile stimulation in the absence of overt participant responses. In Experiment 1 (n = 32), we stimulated three reportedly differentially sensitive body locations (finger, forearm, and calf) with a single tap of a tactor while tracking pupil responses. Tactile stimulation resulted in greater pupil dilation than a baseline without stimulation. Furthermore, pupils dilated more for the more sensitive location (finger) than for the less sensitive location (forearm and calf). In Experiment 2 (n = 20) we extended these findings by manipulating the intensity of the stimulation with three different intensities, here a short vibration, always at the little finger. Again, pupils dilated more when being stimulated at higher intensities as compared to lower intensities. In summary, pupils dilated more for more sensitive parts of the body at constant stimulation intensity and for more intense stimulation at constant location. Taken together, the results show that the intensity of perceived tactile stimulation can be objectively measured with pupil responses - and that such responses are a versatile marker for touch research. Our findings may pave the way for previously impossible objective tests of tactile sensitivity, for example in minimally conscious state patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia F Ten Brink
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Iris Heiner
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - H Chris Dijkerman
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Christoph Strauch
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Capiotto F, Romano Cappi G, Mirlisenna I, Mazza A, Cicinelli G, Lauritano C, Keller R, Dal Monte O. Autonomic and hedonic response to affective touch in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2024; 17:923-933. [PMID: 38685201 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3143] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Interpersonal touch plays a crucial role in shaping relationships and encouraging social connections. Failure in processing tactile input or abnormal tactile sensitivity may hamper social behaviors and have severe consequences in individuals' relational lives. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by both sensory disruptions and social impairments, making affective touch an ideal meeting point for understanding these features in ASD individuals. By integrating behavioral and physiological measures, we investigated the effects of affective touch on adult individuals with ASD from both an implicit and explicit perspective. Specifically, at an implicit level, we investigated whether and how receiving an affective touch influenced participants' skin conductance tonic and phasic components. At the explicit level, we delved into the affective and unpleasant features of affective touch. Overall, we observed lower skin conductance level in ASD compared to TD subjects. Interestingly, the typically developing (TD) group showed an increased autonomic response for affective touch compared to a control touch, while ASD subjects' autonomic response did not differ between the two conditions. Furthermore, ASD participants provided higher ratings for both the affective and unpleasant components of the touch, compared to TD subjects. Our results reveal a noteworthy discrepancy in ASD population between the subjective experience, characterized by amplified hedonic but also unpleasant responses, and the physiological response, marked by a lack of autonomic activation related to affective touch. This insightful dissociation seems crucial for a deeper understanding of the distinctive challenges characterizing people with ASD and may have implications for diagnosis and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Giovanni Cicinelli
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department, Local Health Unit ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Lauritano
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department, Local Health Unit ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Roberto Keller
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department, Local Health Unit ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Olga Dal Monte
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Skora L, Marzecová A, Jocham G. Tonic and phasic transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) both evoke rapid and transient pupil dilation. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:233-244. [PMID: 38423207 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.02.013] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS or taVNS) is a non-invasive method of electrical stimulation of the afferent pathway of the vagus nerve, suggested to drive changes in putative physiological markers of noradrenergic activity, including pupil dilation. OBJECTIVE However, it is unknown whether different taVNS modes can map onto the phasic and tonic modes of noradrenergic activity. The effects of taVNS on pupil dilation in humans are inconsistent, largely due to differences in stimulation protocols. Here, we attempted to address these issues. METHODS We investigated pupil dilation under phasic (1 s) and tonic (30 s) taVNS, in a pre-registered, single-blind, sham-controlled, within-subject cross-over design, in the absence of a behavioural task. RESULTS Phasic taVNS induced a rapid increase in pupil size over baseline, significantly greater than under sham stimulation, which rapidly declined after stimulation offset. Tonic taVNS induced a similarly rapid (and larger than sham) increase in pupil size over baseline, returning to baseline within 5 s, despite the ongoing stimulation. Thus, both active and sham tonic modes closely resembled the phasic effect. There were no differences in tonic baseline pupil size, and no sustained effects of stimulation on tonic baseline pupil size. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that both phasic- and tonic-like taVNS under the standard stimulation parameters may modulate primarily the phasic mode of noradrenergic activity, as indexed by evoked pupil dilation, over and above somatosensory effects. This result sheds light on the temporal profile of phasic and tonic stimulation, with implications for their applicability in further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Skora
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
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Dercksen TT, Widmann A, Wetzel N. Salient omissions-pupil dilation in response to unexpected omissions of sound and touch. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1143931. [PMID: 37032955 PMCID: PMC10077953 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1143931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Recent theories describe perception as an inferential process based on internal predictive models adjusted by means of prediction violations (prediction error). To study and demonstrate predictive processing in the brain the use of unexpected stimulus omissions has been suggested as a promising approach as the evoked brain responses are uncontaminated by responses to stimuli. Here, we aimed to investigate the pupil's response to unexpected stimulus omissions in order to better understand surprise and orienting of attention resulting from prediction violation. So far only few studies have used omission in pupillometry research and results have been inconsistent. Methods This study adapted an EEG paradigm that has been shown to elicit omission responses in auditory and somatosensory modalities. Healthy adults pressed a button at their own pace, which resulted in the presentation of sounds or tactile stimuli in either 88%, 50% or 0% (motor-control) of cases. Pupil size was recorded continuously and averaged to analyze the pupil dilation response associated with each condition. Results Results revealed that omission responses were observed in both modalities in the 88%-condition compared to motor-control. Similar pupil omission responses were observed between modalities, suggesting modality-unspecific activation of the underlying brain circuits. Discussion In combination with previous omission studies using EEG, the findings demonstrate predictive models in brain processing and point to the involvement of subcortical structures in the omission response. Our pupillometry approach is especially suitable to study sensory prediction in vulnerable populations within the psychiatric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjerk T. Dercksen
- Research Group Neurocognitive Development, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tjerk T. Dercksen,
| | - Andreas Widmann
- Research Group Neurocognitive Development, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Wilhelm Wundt Institute for Psychology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nicole Wetzel
- Research Group Neurocognitive Development, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
- University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal, Stendal, Germany
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Bonin EAC, Lejeune N, Szymkowicz E, Bonhomme V, Martial C, Gosseries O, Laureys S, Thibaut A. Assessment and management of pain/nociception in patients with disorders of consciousness or locked-in syndrome: A narrative review. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1112206. [PMID: 37021037 PMCID: PMC10067681 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1112206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The assessment and management of pain and nociception is very challenging in patients unable to communicate functionally such as patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) or in locked-in syndrome (LIS). In a clinical setting, the detection of signs of pain and nociception by the medical staff is therefore essential for the wellbeing and management of these patients. However, there is still a lot unknown and a lack of clear guidelines regarding the assessment, management and treatment of pain and nociception in these populations. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine the current knowledge regarding this issue by covering different topics such as: the neurophysiology of pain and nociception (in healthy subjects and patients), the source and impact of nociception and pain in DoC and LIS and, finally, the assessment and treatment of pain and nociception in these populations. In this review we will also give possible research directions that could help to improve the management of this specific population of severely brain damaged patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle A. C. Bonin
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Lejeune
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre Hospitalier Neurologique (CHN) William Lennox, Saint-Luc Hospital Group, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emilie Szymkowicz
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Vincent Bonhomme
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
- Anesthesia and Perioperative Neuroscience Laboratory, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Martial
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Olivia Gosseries
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
- Joint International Research Unit on Consciousness, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux (CIUSS), University Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Aurore Thibaut
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness Thematic Unit, GIGA-Research, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Aurore Thibaut,
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Atypical Response to Affective Touch in Children with Autism: Multi-Parametric Exploration of the Autonomic System. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11237146. [PMID: 36498717 PMCID: PMC9737198 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11237146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed at evaluating the autonomic response to pleasant affective touch in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and age-matched typically developing (TD) peers, thanks to multiple autonomic nervous system (ANS) parameters and by contrasting CT (C-tactile fibers) high- vs. low-density territory stimulations. We measured pupil diameter, skin conductance, and heart rate during gentle stroking of two skin territories (CT high- and low-density, respectively, forearm and palm of the hand) in thirty 6-12-year-old TD children and twenty ASD children. TD children showed an increase in pupil diameter and skin conductance associated with a heart rate deceleration in response to tactile stimulations at the two locations. Only the pupil was influenced by the stimulated location, with a later dilation peak following CT low-density territory stimulation. Globally, ASD children exhibited reduced autonomic responses, as well as different ANS baseline values compared to TD children. These atypical ANS responses to pleasant touch in ASD children were not specific to CT-fiber stimulation. Overall, these results point towards both basal autonomic dysregulation and lower tactile autonomic evoked responses in ASD, possibly reflecting lower arousal and related to social disengagement.
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Gusso MM, Christison-Lagay KL, Zuckerman D, Chandrasekaran G, Kronemer SI, Ding JZ, Freedman NC, Nohama P, Blumenfeld H. More than a feeling: Scalp EEG and eye signals in conscious tactile perception. Conscious Cogn 2022; 105:103411. [PMID: 36156359 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2022.103411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the neural basis of consciousness is a fundamental goal of neuroscience, and sensory perception is often used as a proxy for consciousness in empirical studies. However, most studies rely on reported perception of visual stimuli. Here we present behavior, high density scalp EEG and eye metric recordings collected simultaneously during a novel tactile threshold perception task. We found significant N80, N140 and P300 event related potentials in perceived trials and in perceived versus not perceived trials. Significance was limited to a P100 and P300 in not perceived trials. We also found an increase in pupil diameter and blink rate and a decrease in microsaccade rate following perceived relative to not perceived tactile stimuli. These findings support the use of eye metrics as a measure of physiological arousal associated with conscious perception. Eye metrics may also represent a novel path toward the creation of tactile no-report tasks in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana M Gusso
- Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologia em Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, R. Imaculada Conceição, 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Paraná 80215-901, Brazil
| | - Kate L Christison-Lagay
- Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - David Zuckerman
- Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ganesh Chandrasekaran
- Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Sharif I Kronemer
- Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Departments of Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Julia Z Ding
- Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Noah C Freedman
- Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Percy Nohama
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologia em Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, R. Imaculada Conceição, 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Paraná 80215-901, Brazil
| | - Hal Blumenfeld
- Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Departments of Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Departments of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Departments of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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