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A touching Sight: EEG/ERP correlates for the vicarious processing of affectionate touch.

Annett Schirmer1, Francis McGlone2

  • 1Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Center for Cognition and Brain Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior
|November 13, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Observing social touch activates sensorimotor and socio-affective brain regions. This vicarious touch experience is influenced by task goals and observer sex, particularly for socio-affective responses.

Keywords:
EmotionMirror neuronsSex differencesSocial touchSomatosensory perceptionVicarious tactile processing

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Humans can simulate others' tactile sensations.
  • Understanding vicarious touch in social contexts is crucial for social engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate if observing full-body social interactions with touch elicits vicarious tactile experiences.
  • Determine if these experiences involve more than basic sensorimotor mirroring.
  • Examine the influence of processing goals and individual differences (sex) on vicarious touch perception.

Main Methods:

  • Electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) were used.
  • Participants viewed line drawings of dyadic interactions with and without affectionate touch.
  • Two tasks were employed: explicit (touch vs. no-touch) and implicit (sex categorization).

Main Results:

  • Modulations in central Rolandic rhythms indicated sensorimotor engagement.
  • A larger late positive potential (LPP) for touch images suggested socio-affective processing.
  • Sensorimotor responses were task-independent but less effortful in women.
  • Socio-affective responses (LPP) decreased with implicit processing in women and were absent in men.

Conclusions:

  • Vicarious touch from social interactions involves shared sensorimotor and socio-affective experiences.
  • Socio-affective representations of touch are enhanced when touch is goal-relevant and the observer is female.
  • Visual media depicting touch can socially engage observers under specific conditions.