touchy feely

From the New York Times – “A warm touch seems to set off the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps create a sensation of trust, and to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.”

That’s nice. Kinda makes you want to snuggle up to a primate near you.

“In the brain, prefrontal areas, which help regulate emotion, can relax, freeing them for another of their primary purposes: problem solving. In effect, the body interprets a supportive touch as ‘I’ll share the load.’…. We think that humans build relationships precisely for this reason, to distribute problem solving across brains,” said James A. Coan, a a psychologist at the University of Virginia. “We are wired to literally share the processing load, and this is the signal we’re getting when we receive support through touch.”

Gives a whole new meaning to the idea of being wired, eh? “I’ll share the load.”

Idea for a barroom pick-up line – “Hey, good looking; want to solve some problems?”