The Science of Touch

Our instinctive need for touch

As a collective experiencing the pandemic, we know that when physical contact becomes limited—or, in some cases, eliminated—people can develop a condition called touch starvation or touch deprivation.

Primal touch is a term used to describe the basic, instinctive, and fundamental nature of touch. It refers to the innate, primitive, and essential aspects of touch that are hardwired into our nervous system and have been shaped by evolution.

Primal touch is thought to play a critical role in our survival and wellness. From the moment we are born, touch is one of the primary ways in which we learn about the world and connect with others. It is an essential form of communication and can convey a wide range of emotions, from comfort and safety to fear and danger.

A review of research, conducted by Tiffany Field, a leader in the field of touch, found that preterm newborns who received just three 15-minute sessions of touch therapy each day for 5-10 days gained 47 percent more weight than premature infants who’d received standard medical treatment.

Primal touch can also have a significant impact on our physical and emotional health. Research has shown that touch can lower stress levels, reduce anxiety, improve immune function, and signals safety and trust, it soothes. Basic warm touch calms cardiovascular stress. It activates the body’s vagus nerve, which is intimately involved with our compassionate response, and a simple touch can lower cortisol levels and trigger release of oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin hormones, the happy chemical!

Discover more at ALMA Wellness UK