Observers can simulate aspects of other people's tactile experiences. We asked whether
they do so when faced with full-body social interactions, whether emerging representations�…

The somatosensory system decodes a wide range of tactile stimuli, from touch to itch and
pain, with considerable overlap and crosstalk between the pathways that relay each of those�…

People's sensitivity to first-hand pain is affected by their ongoing emotions, with positive
states (joy, amusement) exerting analgesic-like effects, and negative states (sadness, fear)�…

Social touch plays a powerful role in human life, with important physical and mental health
benefits in development and adulthood. Touch is central in building the foundations of social�…

Background and aims While social interactions like verbal support and physical touch have
repeatedly been shown to reduce experimental pain, analgesic effects of passive social�…

Despite the crucial role of touch in social development, there is very little functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) research on brain mechanisms underlying social touch�…

Pain is a salient, aversive sensation which motivates avoidance, but also has a strong social
signaling function. Numerous studies have shown that regions of the nervous system active�…

Massage may be an important method for increasing endogenous oxytocin concentrations
and of potential therapeutic benefit in disorders with social dysfunction such as autism�…

Trauma can shape the way an individual experiences the world and interacts with other
people. Touch is a key component of social interactions, but surprisingly little is known how�…

In non-human primates, opioid-receptor blockade increases social grooming, and the
endogenous opioid system has therefore been hypothesized to support maintenance of long�…