Affective Touching
Neurobiology and Technological Applications

This Element discusses the implications of a new type of touch in humans, 'slow', affective touch nerves C Tactile afferents.

Mark Paterson (Author)

9781009484374, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 February 2025

76 pages
22.8 x 15.1 x 0.5 cm, 0.13 kg

At the end of the twentieth century the discovery of 'slow', affective touch nerves in humans known as C Tactile (CT) afferents, which are entirely separate from the faster pathways for touching objects, had huge social implications. The Swedish neuroscientists responsible formulated an “affective touch hypothesis” or “social touch hypothesis” to consider their purpose. Part I offers a history of the science of social touch, from related discoveries in mammals by physiologists in the 1930s, to the recent rediscoveries of the CT nerves in humans. Part II considers how these findings are being intentionally folded into technologies for interaction. First, as mediated social touch, communicating at a distance through haptics. Second, with the increasing number of social and service robots in health care and domestic settings, the role of affective touch within human-robot interaction design.

Introduction
Part I. A Brief History of the Science of Social Touch
Section 1. Mapping the Neurophysiology of 'Inner' and 'Outer' touch
Section 2. Rediscovering earlier nerve pathways: C-Tactile (CT) Afferents
Part II. Social Touch and Its Mediations: Socio-technological applications
Section 4. Social touch at a distance: a virtual handshake
Section 5. Social touch in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI): a robot hug
References.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]