Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
04:27
Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
Published on: March 15, 2019
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Acute tryptophan depletion alters affective touch perception.
Paula D Trotter1, Sharon A Smith1, David J Moore1
1Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Psychopharmacology
|May 13, 2022
Summary
Lowering serotonin levels through acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) enhances pleasantness ratings for affective touch. This suggests serotonin influences how we perceive pleasant social touch and its hedonic value.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Affiliative touch regulates arousal and stress resilience.
- C-tactile afferents (CTs) encode pleasant touch at specific velocities (1-10 cm/s).
- Serotonin modulates social responses and bonding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of acutely lowering central serotonin on perceptions of CT-targeted affective touch.
Main Methods:
- Double-blind, placebo-controlled study using acute tryptophan depletion (ATD).
- 25 female participants rated directly and vicariously experienced touch.
- Psychophysical techniques delivered tactile stimuli at CT-optimal and non-optimal velocities.
Main Results:
- ATD significantly increased pleasantness ratings for affective touch (direct and vicarious).
- ATD enhanced discrimination of hedonic value for CT-targeted velocities.
- No significant effect on tactile or cold pain thresholds, but a trend for reduced cold pain tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Serotonin depletion modulates neural and behavioral responses to appetitive sensory signals.
- Findings support serotonin's role in processing pleasant touch and social cues.
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