What is touch? Touch is a sense that allows people to perceive things through physical contact with their skin. It is one of five senses, along with taste, smell, hearing, and sight. When humans touch something, they can feel pressure, texture, temperature, pain, and even emotional responses. Humans are born with this ability; it develops during infancy and continues to be important throughout life.
What is erotic touch? Erotic touch involves using hands, lips, tongues, fingers, and genitals to stimulate another person's body. It may involve gentle stroking, caressing, kissing, licking, sucking, or penetration. Erotic touch may be playful, romantic, passionate, or sexual. It often occurs between lovers, partners, or spouses as part of foreplay or sex. Some studies suggest that erotic touch activates more areas of the brain than functional touch like handshakes.
How do researchers study brain activity during touch? Researchers use a technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure changes in blood flow in the brain. This technique shows which parts of the brain become active when someone experiences certain thoughts, feelings, or actions. In an fMRI machine, participants lie still while a magnetic field scans their head and records information about blood flow.
How does touch activate the brain? The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing tactile sensations such as light touch and vibration. When touched, nerve cells transmit signals from the skin to the somatosensory cortex via sensory neurons. Different areas of the somatosensory cortex respond to different types of touch: fingertips process light pressure, palms process firm pressure, backs of hands process sharp pain. Functional touch, such as shaking hands, activates these areas.
What are some other areas of the brain involved in touch and emotion? Other areas of the brain involved in touch include the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, and ventral striatum. These areas help people understand emotions, feel empathy, remember past events, and make decisions. They may be particularly important in romantic relationships because they enable us to connect with others on a deeper level.
Is there any difference between sexual and non-sexual touch? Studies have found that erotic touch activates more areas of the brain than functional touch, suggesting it has a greater impact on emotional responses. Erotic touch may also involve more complex communication and anticipation than functional touch. For example, a kiss requires subtle movements of the lips, tongue, and jaw, which take practice to master.
Conclusion Touch and emotion are closely related. Our brains respond differently to different kinds of touch, with erotic touch having a stronger effect than functional touch like handshakes. This information can improve our understanding of how we experience intimacy, sex, and love.