IMPACT STATEMENT
Our research shows that slow,
caress-like touch provokes heightened pupillary responses only when
administered by a human hand, and that this response is accompanied by
the highest subjective pleasantness ratings. The combination of sensory
elements characterizing human-to-human affective contact (stroke
velocity and human hand features) emerge as a pivotal factor for
experiencing Affective Touch as a comprehensive and rewarding
phenomenon, one that holds central importance in promoting social
bonding and individual wellbeing.