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Updated: May 30, 2026

Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
Published on: March 15, 2019
[The body and touch in nursing care]
1Université de Strasbourg. dav.le.breton@orange.fr
The body is central to intimate, social, and cultural caregiving relationships. Physical touch between patients and caregivers reveals the depth of their connection and shared experiences.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of the body
- Phenomenology of care
- Embodied interaction
Context:
- The body as a site of social and cultural meaning.
- Care relationships are fundamentally embodied experiences.
- The skin serves as a boundary for protection and expression.
Purpose:
- To explore the role of the body in constructing care relationships.
- To analyze the symbolic significance of the skin in healthcare.
- To understand touch as a communicative act in patient-caregiver interactions.
Summary:
- Care relationships are built through embodied interactions, highlighting the social and cultural dimensions of the body.
- The skin acts as a symbolic interface, simultaneously revealing and shielding.
- Touch is a critical element, conveying the narrative of the patient-caregiver relationship.
Impact:
- Enhances understanding of the non-verbal communication in care.
- Provides insights into the phenomenology of patient experience.
- Informs therapeutic approaches by emphasizing embodied connection.
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