Small everyday gestures such as a tap on the shoulder can affect the way humans feel and
act. Touch can have a calming effect and alter the way stress is handled, thereby promoting …

The pleasantness of gentle stroking (CT-targeted touch) varies highly between individuals
and studies, indicating that relevant factors may not be accounted for. We propose that the …

Haptic devices typically rely on rigid actuators and bulky power supply systems, limiting
wearability. Soft materials improve comfort, but careful distribution of stiffness is required to …

Touch is a powerful communication tool, but we have a limited understanding of the role
played by particular physical features of interpersonal touch communication. In this study …

We investigated affective touch as a new pathway to passively mitigate in-the-moment
anxiety. While existing mobile interventions offer great promises for health and well-being …

Somatosensory neuroprostheses restore, replace, or enhance tactile and proprioceptive
feedback for people with sensory impairments due to neurological disorders or injury …

Interpersonal touch is intrinsically reciprocal since it entails a person promoting and another
receiving the touch. While several studies have investigated the beneficial effects of …

Emerging research has demonstrated the viability of emotional communication through
haptic technology inspired by interpersonal touch. However, the meaning-making of artificial …

Highlights•Formalised communication model of touch with a new focus on the sender and
signal.•Clear definition of CT-mediated touch and integrated action with other forms of …

An emerging view in cognitive neuroscience holds that the extraction of emotional relevance
from sensory experience extends beyond the centralized appraisal of sensation in …