Affective Touch

The emotional and social dimension of touch, distinct from discriminative touch that identifies object properties. Affective touch is mediated primarily by C-tactile (CT) afferents in hairy skin and plays a fundamental role in social bonding, emotional communication, and physiological regulation. Gentle, slow stroking on socially appropriate body areas activates neural pathways linked to comfort, oxytocin release, and reduced stress responses. In HCI and wearable technology research, affective touch is a key design concept for systems that aim to convey emotional support, social presence, or calming sensations through technology — including for people with disabilities who may experience reduced access to social touch in daily life.