The benefits of caresses (according to science)

Caresses bring about changes in our body and mind.

New research from the Neuropsychoanalytic Association seems to indicate that caresses play an important role in how the brain develops the mental image of the body.. This study supports the idea that interoceptive cues such as affective touch are important for understanding the body and help create a coherent sense of self.

Decreased perception of these cues have been linked to body image problems, phantom pain, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia. In addition, other studies related to pain or depression also support the idea that caresses support the idea that stroking has health and well-being benefits..

Cuddling helps maintain a positive sense of self.

Affectionate caressing, a common gesture between mothers and children or between couples, can increase the brain's ability to build a sense of ownership of one's own body. sense of ownership of one's body and maintain a healthy sense of and maintain a healthy sense of self.

The study to which we refer, was published in Frontiers Psychologyand was headed by Dr. Aikaterini Fotopoulou, director of the Neuropsychoanalytic Associationand by Mark Jenkinson, Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.

Fifty-two healthy adults participated and used an experimental technique known as the "rubber hand illusion". In this technique the participant sits at a table with his eyes half closed (to reduce his visual field). He places his arms on the table, but one of them is hidden, because he has the rubber hand on top of it. When stimulating the rubber hand, the individual perceives that his or her real hand is being stimulated, although it is the rubber hand that receives the caresses. This technique demonstrates the changing nature of the perception of one's own body.

In previous studies, it has been shown that an affective strokingcharacterized by a slow stimulation of the skin (between 1 and 10 cm per second), correlates with pleasurable emotions and improves anxious symptoms.. Dr. Fotopoulou's team wanted to know whether affective stroking affected the brain's understanding of the body.

In this research, the rubber hand illusion technique was adapted to incorporate different types of stroking: slow and fast stroking (synchronized and non-synchronized both), and affective stroking. After the test, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire measuring their subjective experience of the experiment.

This study supports the idea that the perception of interoceptive cues such as affective touch help build mental image of one's own body, as the perception of affective touch in the brain is part of a series of signals that help monitor the homeostasis.

Caresses help to soothe pain, depression, and strengthen the immune system.

Caresses not only make you feel good and communicate positive feelings, but several studies show that they can be effective in fighting pain, strengthening the immune system or combating depression.

A study conducted by the American Journal of Psychiatry seems to indicate that caresses favor the release of oxytocin, a hormone that induces relaxation and helps us feel full and happy. According to the authors of the study, people who are single and without a romantic relationship tend to be more depressed and sad.

Other benefits of petting

In addition to the benefits we have already indicated regarding cuddling, science seems to provide more data to support the idea that cuddling is good for the well-being of all of us. Here are a few examples:

Maternal caresses heal the effects of gestational stress on children.

The emotions experienced by the mother during pregnancy affect the unborn child in one way or another.. When experiencing a stressful situation, her body reacts by releasing hormones that reach the baby through the placenta, which is associated with various alterations in its development. A study published in PLOSone seems to indicate that mothers' caresses to their babies when they are born reduce stress and negative emotions of the baby after birth and favor its physiological adaptability.

Improves lung function

Research from the University of Miami's Touch Research Institute appears to reveal that caressing improves lung functionimmune function and improves the health of our heart. Human touch is important for all ages.

Helps control Blood pressure

According to a study by the University of North Carolina, it appears that people who give regular hugs and caresses to their partner have lower blood pressure. lower blood pressure and suffer from fewer heart-related pathologies.