Emotional Touch and Its Perception

Touch is a central part of our social experience—but not every touch feels the same. Research shows that there are specific speeds at which gentle stroking is perceived as particularly pleasant. This demonstration introduces a device that strokes the skin of the forearm at different speeds. This allows participants to directly experience just how sensitively our sense of touch responds to such differences. At the same time, the demonstration provides insight into what are known as CT afferents—special nerve fibers that play an important role in the experience of pleasant, affective touch.