: These unmyelinated nerve fibers are located primarily in hairy skin (like the forearm) and are specifically tuned to respond to slow, gentle stroking.
Research highlights several physiological and psychological benefits of stroking:
: Stimulation of these fibers activates the posterior insula , a brain region involved in emotion and homeostatic regulation, rather than just the somatosensory cortex which processes mechanical touch. Benefits and Effects
The human body has a specialized system for processing gentle touch, rooted in specific nerve fibers:
