 The Miracle Of Touch On Memory, Concentration, Survival And Stress
For hundreds of years, we have known that touch is
not only a sensation that can be enjoyed, but it is also absolutely
necessary for our survival. It was German emperor Frederick II who,
through his cruel experiments back in the 13th century, discovered the
human need for body contact. He devised experiments which involved a
group of orphans who were separated from others in an orphanage. This
group's only contact was with the foster mother and wet nurses who
bathed or nursed them. However, the women were neither allowed to speak
nor show any affection to the children under their charge. The
conclusion of this experiment was horrific - none of the children
survived. Touches are important, it is a means of creating
relationships. As a matter of fact, humans cannot do without touch, it
is just as important as food and water. Children and adults alike need
hugs to give them a sense of security and safety. Kisses or even a
squeeze of a hand give helps us express intimacy. There are many ways
we express our social bonds through touch, a business-like handshake
builds rapport and trust, a friendly pat on the back for a colleague or
teammate give a sense of self-worth. Different cultures from around the
world have different rituals concerning touch in their social settings.
The Eskimos and the Maori people of New Zealand, for example, rub noses
as a form of greeting. The Ipo of New Guinea tickle the chin, the
equivalent of a handshake for the rest of us. Hugs, embraces and body
contact promote health and well-being and psychologists agree that
touch is an important aspect of human existence. The human skin is
extremely sensitive to touch. There are close to 700 touch and pressure
receptors on a single finger tip. These receptors help us feel minute
irregularities of the skin as tiny as a 100th of a millimeter thick.
This is as accurate as state of the art laser measuring instruments. Today,
scientists are beginning to find out how skin contact, massage or
stroking affects the body and mind. Certain hormones are released when
the sensory cells are touched in a mild and pleasant manner. Growth
hormones are produced by young mammals when they are licked, cleaned
and nudged by their mothers. Medical researchers have found that
premature human babies breathe more deeply when they lie naked on their
mother's or father's bellies for hours. The infant's heartbeat may even
slow down and can be a life-saver for the premature baby. Medical
studies also confirm the calming and healthy aspect of massages.
Newborn babies gain weight more quickly, have deeper sleep are less
stressed and are more active. Touch not only feels good but it
enhances health and mental capability. A study on a group of patients
suffering from Alzheimer's disease show a combination of massage and
electrical stimulation of the skin over a period of six weeks led to a
dramatic improvement in both memory and mood. Other studies have
concluded that healthy adults also benefit from just 15 minutes of
massage per day. Test volunteers were able to solve mathematical
problems faster and make fewer mistakes, as well as reporting that they
felt calmer. Scientists believe oxytocin to be one of the hormones
released, which produces a series of chain reaction opposite to the
effects stress produces on the body. This leads to higher pain
tolerance, lower blood pressure and more beneficial stimulation of the
digestive system. So if you're having stress at work, studies or
having difficulties with memory and concentration due to stress, give
yourself a massage on the shoulders or the head. If you know of someone
in the family having such problems, a 5-minute shoulder or head rub
goes a very long way to a healthier and stronger emotional and physical
state. It also goes a long way towards creating trust and bonds. Martin
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