pleasant touch

A quadriplegic 28-year-old man senses touch via stimulation of electrodes implanted in his somatosensory cortex.

A mouse study suggests that disruptions to nerves in the skin may contribute to autism spectrum disorder.

Researchers studying neurons that respond to gentle touch reveal that people find strokes on another person's back and shoulder more pleasurable than strokes to the forearm and hand.

Sham treatments can both reduce pain and increase pleasure, and do so affecting similar circuitry in the brain.

Researchers pinpoint a gene marker for neurons sensitive to gentle touch such as grooming.

Why is tactile perception so fundamental to life?

Scientists hope an understanding of nerve fibers responsive only to gentle touch will give insight into the role the sense plays in social bonding.