Neurophysiological evidence of motor contribution to vicarious affective touch

Butti, Niccolò ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5511-4342, Urgesi, Cosimo, Makris, Stergios, McGlone, Francis P, Montirosso, Rosario and Cazzato, Valentina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9826-7798 (2024) Neurophysiological evidence of motor contribution to vicarious affective touch. Cerebral Cortex, 34 (11). bhae441. ISSN 1460-2199

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Abstract

Understanding observed interpersonal touch, particularly the so-called affective touch targeting the CT fibers, is essential for social interactions. Research has documented that observing other people being touched activates the same cortical areas involved in direct tactile experiences. However, observing interpersonal touch also activates an inner simulation of the movements in the observer’s motor system. Given the social and affective significance of CT-optimal touch, the present study tested the hypothesis that observing stroking touches targeting or not targeting the CT fibers system might distinctly influence motor resonance to vicarious touch. With this aim, we used single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and motor-evoked potentials recording while participants observed video clips of interpersonal touch events at different stroking velocities. We found a modulation of motor system activity, particularly a decrease in corticospinal excitability, when observing CT-optimal touch as opposed to non-CT-optimal velocities, a mechanism that might aid in understanding the touchee’s feelings during vicarious interpersonal touch. Moreover, participants with higher reliance on bodily cues to be emotionally aware showed greater motor suppression for CT-optimal compared to non-CT-optimal velocities. These results shed light on the complex interplay between motor and somatosensory systems in social touch perception and emphasize the importance of affective touch in human social interactions.