Facial reconstruction

Search LJMU Research Online

Browse Repository | Browse E-Theses

Psychophysiology and motivated emotion: testing the affective touch hypothesis of C-tactile afferent function

Walker, SC, Marshall, A and Pawling, R (2021) Psychophysiology and motivated emotion: testing the affective touch hypothesis of C-tactile afferent function. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 43. pp. 131-137. ISSN 2352-1546

[img]
Preview
Text
Psychophysiology and motivated emotion testing the affective touch hypothesis of C-tactile afferent function.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (990kB) | Preview

Abstract

The affective touch hypothesis posits a class of unmyelinated, low threshold mechanoreceptors form a distinct channel signaling the affective dimension of touch. The preferred stimulus of these CT afferents is a low force and velocity, skin temperature stroke, typical of a caress. A growing body of research has utilized psychophysiological techniques to study the implicit effects of CT targeted touch. Here we consider that literature in the context of an established, comparative model of motivated emotion. Consistent with their hypothesized social-affective function, preliminary evidence indicates CT targeted touch has a positive affective value, lowers arousal and modulates neural responses to concurrently experienced affective cues. We propose that psychophysiological research grounded in motivational theories of emotion adds unique value to the exploration of the affective touch hypothesis.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 1701 Psychology
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions: Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher: Elsevier
Date Deposited: 22 Nov 2021 12:43
Last Modified: 03 Nov 2022 00:50
DOI or ID number: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.10.004
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15817
View Item View Item