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CT Afferent-Mediated Affective Touch: Brain Networks and Functional Hypotheses

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Affective Touch and the Neurophysiology of CT Afferents

Abstract

Investigating the role of C-tactile (CT) afferents in affective touch requires exploration of the subcortical and cortical brain regions which receive information from the CT afferent pathway. This chapter summarizes the major known cortical targets and wider networks associated with CT-mediated touch, particularly the posterior insula and parietal operculum. It concludes with an outline of three hypotheses regarding the possible function of CT afferents. A central feature of each is the idea that C mechanoreceptive afferents contribute to physiological regulation, particularly of the sympathetic nervous system, in a manner which can extend to the social domain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

    India Morrison Ph.D.

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  1. India Morrison Ph.D.
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Correspondence to India Morrison Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Göteborg, Sweden

    Håkan Olausson

  2. Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Johan Wessberg

  3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

    India Morrison

  4. Research Centre for Brain & Behaviour, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Francis McGlone

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Morrison, I. (2016). CT Afferent-Mediated Affective Touch: Brain Networks and Functional Hypotheses. In: Olausson, H., Wessberg, J., Morrison, I., McGlone, F. (eds) Affective Touch and the Neurophysiology of CT Afferents. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6418-5_12

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