Abstract
Social touch may modulate emotions, but the neurobehavioral correlates are poorly understood. Here, we investigated neural responses to a picture of a deceased close person and if neural activity and connectivity are modulated by social touch from one’s romantic partner. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found altered reactivity in several brain areas including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the anterior insula in response to the personal picture compared to a picture of an unfamiliar person. Hand holding with the romantic partner, compared to being alone, reduced reactivity in the ACC and cerebellum and provided subjective comfort. To separate physical touch from the emotional effect of partner presence, we evaluated hand holding with the partner relative to a stranger and found reduced reactivity in the anterior insula. Connectivity between the anterior insula and the ACC was reduced during partner touch, and the connectivity strength was negatively related to attachment security, with higher reported partner security associated with weaker connectivity. Overall, holding hands with one’s partner attenuates reactivity in emotional brain areas and reduces between-region connectivity.
Highlights
Viewing pictures of deceased relatives induces sadness and engages a network of brain regions including the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, caudate nucleus, cerebellum, anterior insula, fusiform gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and periaqueductal gray (Gündel et al, 2003; O’Connor et al, 2008), which largely overlaps with brain areas involved in processing of general emotional pictures (e.g. Geday et al, 2003; Fusar-Poli et al, 2009; Sabatinelli et al, 2011)
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found altered reactivity in several brain areas including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the anterior insula in response to the personal picture compared to a picture of an unfamiliar person
Connectivity between the anterior insula and the ACC was reduced during partner touch, and the connectivity strength was negatively related to attachment security, with higher reported partner security associated with weaker connectivity
Summary
Viewing pictures of deceased relatives induces sadness and engages a network of brain regions including the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, caudate nucleus, cerebellum, anterior insula, fusiform gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and periaqueductal gray (Gündel et al, 2003; O’Connor et al, 2008), which largely overlaps with brain areas involved in processing of general emotional pictures (e.g. Geday et al, 2003; Fusar-Poli et al, 2009; Sabatinelli et al, 2011). There is some evidence that the presence of and physical contact with one’s romantic partner reduces neural reactivity to physical threat and pain (Eisenberger et al, 2011; Coan et al, 2006, 2013; Johnson et al, 2013) and that this effect varies as a function of attachment style—i.e. individual differences of relating to close others while under stress (Bowlby, 1982; Carpenter & Kirkpatrick, 1996; Mikulincer et al, 2003; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2005). We aimed to investigate possible effects of holding hands with a romantic partner on neural responses to personally, highly emotional visual stimulation. We tested whether activity in brain areas engaged by the personal picture is altered when holding hands with the romantic partner. The findings can provide new leads in our understanding of the neurobiology of attachment and partner emotion regulation
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