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

    July 2025 in “ The Journal of Physiology ”
    Ingvars Birznieks
    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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