That we need to receive hugs and caresses to survive is more than evident during the first years of life. Studies in babies suggest that in the absence of physical contact millions of neurons die in their brains . Without gestures of affection in childhood, not enough growth hormone is produced , as scientists from Duke University (USA) have shown, giving rise to what is known as "psychosocial dwarfism" . In addition, recent research reveals that the brain of a baby who is not caressed is approximately 20% smaller.
The importance of physical contact does not diminish when we grow up, quite the opposite. Studies conducted at the University of North Carolina reveal that when other people touch or hug us at any age, blood levels of oxytocin , nicknamed the "love hormone," increase, and blood pressure and heart rate decrease. "Walking the hand of our partner for ten minutes or simply a brief hug can have a protective effect on the heart at the beginning of a hard workday," explained Karen Grewen, co-author of the study.
