Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Empathy02:34

Empathy

Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Systematic review of tactile-based interventions combined with multisensory stimulation protocols in the rehabilitation of patients with disorders of consciousness.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2026
Same author

The physiology of feeling: C-tactile afferents scaffold the developing social brain?

The Journal of physiology·2026
Same author

Vicarious Perception of Touch in ASD: The Role of Empathy and Touch Experiences.

Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research·2026
Same author

An advancement of intraoperative language mapping in awake craniotomy.

Neurocase·2026
Same author

Wellbeing Effects of Human-Pet Touch in Dogs versus Cats.

Journal of applied animal welfare science : JAAWS·2026
Same author

Cardiac activity is associated with changes in microstates of the electroencephalogram in healthy adults: A resting state study.

International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI
09:55

Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI

Published on: April 8, 2010

15.3K

Neurophysiological Responses to Vicarious Affective Touch: An Electroencephalography (EEG) Study.

Ana Rita Pereira1, Adriana Sampaio1, Francis McGlone2

  • 1Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory (PNL), Research Center in Psychology (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.

The European Journal of Neuroscience
|April 1, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Observing caressing touch at optimal speeds (CT-optimal) for C-tactile afferents (CTs) is perceived as more pleasant. This optimal touch speed engages broader neural resources and higher somatosensory activation in observers.

Keywords:
C‐tactile afferentsEEGaffective touchvicarious touch

More Related Videos

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
09:18

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants

Published on: December 20, 2011

17.2K
Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
04:27

Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans

Published on: March 15, 2019

11.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI
09:55

Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI

Published on: April 8, 2010

15.3K
Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
09:18

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants

Published on: December 20, 2011

17.2K
Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
04:27

Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans

Published on: March 15, 2019

11.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Somatosensory processing
  • Social cognition

Background:

  • Affective touch, mediated by C-tactile afferents (CTs), is crucial for social bonding.
  • CTs respond best to caressing touch at ~3 cm/s (CT-optimal speed).
  • Vicarious observation of touch can evoke empathy, but processing of CT-optimal vs. suboptimal touch is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how the brain processes vicariously observed affective touch at CT-optimal speeds.
  • To compare subjective pleasantness and EEG responses to static, CT-optimal, and fast touch videos.

Main Methods:

  • Participants watched touch videos at static, slow (CT-optimal), and fast speeds.
  • Subjective ratings of pleasantness and willingness to receive touch were collected.
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) data were recorded to analyze brain activity.

Main Results:

  • CT-optimal touch was rated significantly more pleasant and elicited greater willingness to engage than static or fast touch.
  • CT-optimal touch resulted in lower beta power (EEG desynchronization) compared to other speeds.
  • Alpha and theta bands showed modulation for slow and fast touch versus static, but not between slow and fast touch.

Conclusions:

  • Vicarious processing of CT-optimal affective touch engages more neural resources and activates somatosensory areas more intensely.
  • The speed of observed touch significantly influences its affective and neural processing.
  • This highlights the importance of specific tactile parameters in social sensory processing.