Affective Touch (Part of the Sadler Seminar Series 'Touch: Sensing, Feeling, Knowing')

Dr India Morrison (Linköping University, Sweden) and Amelia DeFalco (University of Leeds) will discuss the skin as a social organ: the neuroscience of affective touch.

Touch in social interactions can be laden with emotion. This basic fact seems clear to any of us as we go about our daily lives, yet neuroscience has not possessed the tools to address the vital affective dimension of touch until only recently.

A crucial question for the growing field of affective touch neuroscience is: could affective touch be a special kind of touch, with distinct neural mechanisms?

This lecture summarises recent research in psychology and neuroscience relevant to this question. It also explores the important proposition that affective touch is inherently social, drawing on evidence and concepts from anatomical, evolutionary, and functional perspectives.

All are welcome to attend. Tea and coffee will be provided. Please direct any queries to Emily Paul

Location details

LHRI - Seminar Room 1