The Hair Loss Encyclopedia

C-Tactile Afferents: The Mystery of Human Emotional Touch Hidden Hair-Deep

July 2025 in “ The Journal of Physiology ”

Ingvars Birznieks

C-tactile afferents hair follicles hair movement hedonic touch social bonding oxytocin release hairy skin piloerection pain modulation pleasure

Image of study

TLDR C-tactile afferents are linked to emotional touch and social bonding through hair movement.

The study explores the role of C-tactile (CT) afferents in human emotional touch, revealing their association with hair follicles and hair movement. CT afferents, which respond to gentle, slow stroking, are linked to emotional processing rather than conscious tactile perception. They are involved in social bonding and comfort, potentially facilitating oxytocin release. The research by Moore et al. (2025) found that all 15 CT afferents studied were functionally linked to hair follicles, responding to hair deflection and piloerection. Despite these findings, the full understanding of CT afferents remains incomplete, as their molecular markers in humans are unidentified, leaving questions about their types and functions.

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