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Pawling, R, Trotter, PD, McGlone, FP and Walker, SC (2017) A Positive Touch: C-tactile afferent targeted skin stimulation carries an appetitive motivational value. Biological Psychology, 129. pp. 186-194. ISSN 1873-6246
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Abstract
The rewarding sensation of touch in affiliative interactions is hypothesised to be underpinned by an unmyelinated system of nerve fibres called C-tactile afferents (CTs). CTs are velocity tuned, responding optimally to slow, gentle touch, typical of a caress. Here we used evaluative conditioning to examine whether CT activation carries a positive affective value. A set of neutral faces were paired with robotically delivered touch to the forearm. With half the faces touch was delivered at a CT optimal velocity of 3cm/s (CT touch) and with the other half at a faster, Non-CT optimal velocity of 30cm/s (Control touch). Heart-rate and skin conductance responses (SCRs) were recorded throughout. Whilst rated equally approachable pre-conditioning, post-conditioning faces paired with CT touch were judged significantly more approachable than those paired with Control touch. CT touch also elicited significantly greater heart-rate deceleration and lower amplitude SCRs than Control touch. The results indicate CT touch carries a positive affective value, which can be acquired by socially relevant stimuli it is associated with.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 1701 Psychology, 1702 Cognitive Science, 1109 Neurosciences |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry |
| Divisions: | Natural Sciences & Psychology (closed 31 Aug 19) |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| Related URLs: | |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Sep 2017 11:50 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2021 11:13 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.08.057 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/7150 |
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