Mechanosensation and the brain-body axis: From survival needs to social behaviours

Mechanosensation enables organisms to detect physical forces such as touch, stretch and pressure and convert them into neuronal signals. These mechanical cues are essential for maintaining physiological stability, detecting environmental threats, and coordinating social interactions. At the molecular level, mechanosensitive ion channels, particularly members of the Transient Receptor Potential and PIEZO families, serve as key transducers that translate mechanical stimuli into cellular responses. This review synthesizes evidence from rodents and other model organisms to highlight how mechanosensory systems support core survival domains: physiological regulation, safety behaviours, and social interactions. Mechanosensory pathways detect mechanical forces arising from feeding, cardiovascular regulation, and visceral organ function, while also contributing to pain perception and threat detection. In addition, tactile signals play a central role in social recognition, reproductive behaviour, and maternal interactions, often mediated by low-threshold mechanoreceptors. Across species, mechanosensation integrates peripheral signals with central neuronal circuits to coordinate adaptive behaviour and maintain homeostasis. Disruption of mechanosensory pathways is increasingly linked to pathological conditions, including chronic pain, neurodevelopmental disorders, and social dysfunction. Understanding the molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying mechanosensation therefore provides critical insight into the regulation of survival behaviours and offers promising therapeutic targets for neurological and systemic diseases.