Signals sent from the skin following caressing reach the brain directly
Nerve signals that transmit to the brain that our skin is experiencing caressing have their own special specialized nerve fibers in the skin. This is according to a new study conducted at the Schlaganske Academy in Sweden and published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The discovery may explain why skin contact can relieve pain.
These specialized nerve fibers in the skin are called CT nerves, and they have a path that goes directly to those areas of the brain that are essential in the emergence of sensations. Moreover, it turns out that these nerve fibers are not blocked even when the brain receives pain signals from the same area of the skin. In fact, the opposite is true - the signals transmitted to the brain about caressing are able to darken or dampen the pain signals.
The researchers examined a group of healthy subjects, using a technique called microneurography, which allows, by inserting a thin electrode into the nerve in the arm, to select the signal action of a specific nerve fiber and examine its activity. Each of the nerve fibers is responsible for touch signals from approximately one square centimeter.
They used a robot specially designed for the study, which stroked the exact area of his skin responsible for that specific nerve fiber where the electrode was inserted. The subjects were asked to rate how pleasant or unpleasant they experienced the petting.
The findings showed that when the nerve signals sent in the CT nerves became more frequent, the subjects described their experience as more and more pleasant. The researchers also found that of the skin nerves studied, only the CT nerves had a strong relationship between the frequency of the signals and the rating of the pleasant touch sensation.
for the scientific article
to the researchers' press release
5 תגובות
Nathaniel:
indeed! It really belongs to everyone who has dedicated nerves for the feeling of being caressed!
Well done.
Perhaps this is why it is possible to explain why according to Judaism it is forbidden to touch a member of the opposite sex before marriage.
The touch affects and imprints on the brain - then later when you touch the intended partner after marriage - the excitement is no longer excitement.
Remy and "I knew"
I think you missed the main point of the article.
The topic was not the "importance and effect of caressing" but the fact that there are special nerves for transmitting the feeling of caressing.
I don't think you knew that.
Even as a child I discovered for myself that the best way to make a stomach ache disappear almost immediately is by gently caressing the stomach with the fingers or with the help of toilet paper or some soft fabric... Well, so today the researchers also discovered what I already knew 🙂
it is known. A lot of research has been done on the subject.
For example, an experiment from the beginning of the century with the twin babies, who were raised in different ways. One received warmth and love and a lot of touch. while the second one was hardly touched, they just let him eat. The first grew up to become a healthy child, and the second developed as a retard. Of course, following the difficult experiment, many laws were enacted to protect the child. But the known conclusion is that love (and a lot of touch) contributes to the development of toddlers.
Contact is also studied in the field of marriage. Couples who touch each other a lot and maintain physical contact - are much healthier couples. This is the reason why sexologists and relationship counselors recommend physical contact and closeness. As evidence, young couples, in the early stages of the relationship, are very physical (and very happy) and as time goes by the contact curve goes down and so does the happiness curve. Not my invention, all academic studies!
There are countless other examples on the subject of contact, take for example the health aspect. Touch brings blood to the area being touched. That is why when there is pain it is recommended to touch the area and massage it, touch brings new blood to the area and the "pain" goes away faster. Dozens of studies on this topic have proven this.
I read a few more articles in "Mega" from other aspects as well. They all have the same conclusion - touch creates happiness and prolongs life!