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Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
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High frequency heart rate variability is associated with sensitivity to affective touch.

Ralph Pawling1, Francis McGlone2, Susannah C Walker1

  • 1Research Centre for Brain & Behaviour, School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.

Physiology & Behavior
|June 3, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Individuals with higher high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) show greater sensitivity to pleasant touch, suggesting autonomic control influences tactile perception and social interaction. This study links HF-HRV to C-tactile afferent sensitivity.

Keywords:
Affective touch, Heart rate variabilityC-tactile afferentSocialTouch

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychophysiology
  • Social Cognition

Background:

  • C-tactile afferents (CTs) are mechanosensitive nerve fibers responding to gentle touch, hypothesized to mediate the rewarding aspects of social affiliation.
  • Individual differences in CT-targeted touch pleasantness exist, and variations in vagally mediated high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) are linked to visual social cognition.
  • The relationship between autonomic nervous system function (HF-HRV) and sensitivity to affective touch (CT afferents) remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between resting-state HF-HRV and individual sensitivity to socially relevant, CT-targeted touch.
  • To determine if autonomic control differences can explain variations in hedonic responses to affective touch.

Main Methods:

  • Recorded 5-minute electrocardiograms (ECG) in 58 healthy participants to measure resting-state HF-HRV.
  • Participants rated the pleasantness of robotically delivered touch at five different velocities (0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30 cm/s), including CT-optimal and non-optimal ranges.
  • Analyzed the relationship between HF-HRV and the quadratic fit of touch pleasantness ratings using simple regression.

Main Results:

  • Group-level analysis revealed touch pleasantness followed a negative quadratic function, with CT-optimal velocities (1-10 cm/s) rated as more pleasant than slower or faster speeds.
  • Simple regression demonstrated that participants' HF-HRV significantly predicted the quadratic curve fit of their touch pleasantness ratings.
  • Higher HF-HRV was associated with a better quadratic fit, indicating greater sensitivity to the optimal range of touch velocities.

Conclusions:

  • Resting-state HF-HRV is significantly associated with individual differences in sensitivity to pleasant, CT-targeted touch.
  • Trait differences in autonomic nervous system regulation, as reflected by HF-HRV, may underlie individual variations in affective touch perception.
  • Findings support the hypothesis that autonomic control influences the processing of social-tactile cues, potentially impacting social cognition and affiliative behaviors.