Human Touch

"And it clicked" - if that's the case, it often involved a touch. Even unintentional touches in everyday life influence our decisions; they grant us access to buried feelings or bring us back into balance. How "human touch" works and why it is so important is described by the young neuroscientist Rebecca Böhme in this exceptionally vivid and empathetic, truly touching book. The science of human touch is still young. Not long ago, it was considered off-limits for babies and the elderly: touching was forbidden. Today we know that newborns who experience intense skin contact immediately after birth are less easily frustrated by the age of one and can soothe themselves better. Physical contact remains essential for our health and well-being well into old age. Humans are social beings; touch is not a luxury but a necessity for survival. Those who are touched live longer and recover more quickly from illnesses. In contrast, a lack of touch can actually make one sick. Rebecca Böhme reveals what happens in our bodies and minds when we are touched, examines the trend phenomenon of cuddle parties, and explores the possibility of touch in long-distance relationships.