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 hedonic touch and social bonding, potentially facilitating oxytocin release. Despite being found primarily in hairy skin, their exact function remains unclear due to the lack of molecular markers. The research by Moore et al. (2025) demonstrates that CT afferents are functionally linked to hair follicles, responding to hair deflection and piloerection. However, questions remain about their presence in non-hairy skin and their role in pain modulation versus pleasure. Further research is needed to fully understand the diversity and function of CT afferents in humans.
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