Does touch matter? The impact of stroking versus non-stroking maternal touch on cardio-respiratory processes in mothers and infants

Abstract

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Childhood Adversity and Affective Touch Perception: A Comparison of United Kingdom Care Leavers and Non-care Leavers

“…While the outcomes of growing up in foster care are more positive than institutionalized care, it is still a significant risk factor for poor mental-health and social isolation in later life (Stein, 2006;Gypen et al, 2017;Atkinson and Hyde, 2019), suggesting self-regulatory deficits are apparent in this group too. The blunted affective touch ratings reported in the present study provide further support for the theory that CTs are one mechanism by which early nurturing contact supports the development of an infant's physiological and emotional regulation (Craig, 2002;Björnsdotter et al, 2010;McGlone et al, 2017;Manzotti et al, 2019;Van Puyvelde et al, 2019b).…”

“…Heart-rate variability is a biomarker of self-regulation capacity, and low levels have been linked to anxiety and depression ( Friedman and Thayer, 1998 ; Booij et al, 2006 ; Melzig et al, 2009 ; Pappens et al, 2014 ; Smith et al, 2017 ). Maternal touch is known to have a significant influence on the developing autonomic system ( Hofer, 1994 ; Field et al, 1995 ; Van Puyvelde et al, 2019b ). While, both skin-to-skin contact with their mother and stroking touch increase respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a component of HRV, in young infants ( Van Puyvelde et al, 2015 , 2019a , b ), lack of parental support is known to lead to blunted RSA development ( Field et al, 1995 ).…”

“…Maternal touch is known to have a significant influence on the developing autonomic system ( Hofer, 1994 ; Field et al, 1995 ; Van Puyvelde et al, 2019b ). While, both skin-to-skin contact with their mother and stroking touch increase respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a component of HRV, in young infants ( Van Puyvelde et al, 2015 , 2019a , b ), lack of parental support is known to lead to blunted RSA development ( Field et al, 1995 ). To the best of our knowledge, differences in somatosensory processing in those raised in foster care have not previously been reported.…”

“…Touch is a key sensory channel for parental-infant interactions ( Hofer, 1994 ; Walker and McGlone, 2013 ; McGlone et al, 2017 ; Van Puyvelde et al, 2019b ; Montirosso and McGlone, 2020 ). Indeed, a range of studies have shown clear links between early nurturing tactile interactions, experience dependent neural plasticity, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis development, and later life social and emotional functioning ( Levine, 2001 ; Meaney, 2001 ; Champagne et al, 2008 ; Franklin et al, 2011 ; Walker and McGlone, 2013 ; Walker et al, 2017a ; Van Puyvelde et al, 2019a , b ), with a paucity of early nurturing touch having adverse consequences (see Walker and McGlone, 2013 ; Bales et al, 2018 for reviews). In rodents, parental sensory stimulation largely consists of licking and grooming, huddling, and playing, all of which involve significant somatosensory stimulation.…”

“…Their peripheral response characteristics, coupled with central projections to affective rather than primary sensory regions, has led to the hypothesis that the CT system evolved to signal socially relevant and rewarding touch ( Löken et al, 2009 ; Morrison et al, 2010 ; Olausson et al, 2010 ; Ackerley et al, 2014 ). Indirect support for this putative social function comes from studies where, when asked to caress their infant, parents spontaneously delivered touch within the CT optimal range ( Croy et al, 2016a ; Van Puyvelde et al, 2019a , b ; Bytomski et al, 2020 ).…”