Abstract

Tactile play and playful massage are a normal interaction between adults and children in many cultures. Experimental data show that activation of the C-tactile system during such playful touches contributes to children’s socialization and the establishment of psychoemotional bonds in the parent-child dyad. However, comprehensive studies of the effects of different types of touch on perception of tactile stimulation in children have not been conducted before. Twenty-three children participated in the present study: 10 in the preschool age group and 13 in the elementary school age group. Children in both groups received play massage containing different types of touch with simultaneous recording of electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate. EEG processing included determination of spectral power, alpha rhythm peak frequency and fractal dimension. Analysis of the results showed that the relaxing effect of the procedure was more pronounced in children of primary school age, which can be explained both by the greater maturity of the CNS and the greater need for tactile contact, which is not realized in the school environment.

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