MED | Memories that touch deeply: How affective touch may leave traces in memory

SFU research collaboration develops neurobiological model of affective tactile memory formation

A comforting hug, a soothing caress, a hand on the shoulder: such forms of touch often resonate far beyond the immediate moment – but how exactly does this happen? In a new review article published in the renowned journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, Henrik Bischoff (Sigmund Freud Private University), Federica Meconi (University of Trento), and Laura Crucianelli (Queen Mary University of London) propose a neurobiological model to address this question. Their central thesis is that, under certain conditions, affective touch may be understood as a distinct form of embodied memory formation – leaving partly consciously accessible and partly implicit traces that shape our sense of safety, attachment, and trust across the lifespan.

More than a fleeting moment

Research has shown for decades that touch carries profound emotional significance. What has remained less clear, however, is how such experiences become anchored in memory. The article Memories that touch deeply: Toward a neurobiological model of affective tactile memory explores whether emotionally meaningful touch – much like visual, olfactory, or emotional memories – may constitute a distinct form of memory in its own right, the distinctive feature being its more strongly embodied and relational quality.

Touch and meaning

The model describes an interplay between two directions of processing. From the bottom up, so-called C-tactile afferents contribute to the experience: slowly conducting nerve fibres that respond particularly to gentle, stroking touch and are closely linked to interoceptive, that is, internal bodily, perception. From the top down, prefrontal and limbic networks shape the experience through context, expectation, attachment history, and subjective meaning.

One important distinction emphasised by the article in light of recent empirical findings is that the mere activation of these nerve fibres is not sufficient to anchor a touch experience in memory. Recent studies suggest that even optimally administered stroking touch alone does not reliably enhance conscious episodic memory. Whether touch leaves lasting traces appears to depend crucially on the relational and meaningful context in which it is experienced – for example, who is offering the touch and under what circumstances.

The model further distinguishes between explicit and implicit traces. Explicit memories allow individuals to consciously recall specific moments of touch. Implicit traces are less tangible, yet potentially more influential: they may manifest in how safe we feel in relationships, how we respond to stress, or how natural physical closeness feels to us – even without conscious recollection of the underlying experiences.

Relevance across the lifespan

The model raises important questions for different stages of life. In early childhood, consistent and sensitive touch experiences may provide the foundation for emotional security and attachment. During adolescence – a phase marked by heightened social sensitivity – touch appears to continue playing a role in emotional regulation and social learning. In adulthood, it shapes relationship quality, stress regulation, and well-being – not only through interactions with others, but also through self-touch, such as placing a hand on one’s chest in moments of distress. The perspective may be particularly significant for older adults and for individuals who have experienced social isolation, where access to nurturing touch can become limited.

Implications for therapy, caregiving, and parenting

The model also suggests potential implications for parenting, caregiving, therapy, and support work. Consensual, appropriate, and context-sensitive touch may help support stress regulation, social bonding, and feelings of emotional safety. At the same time, relationship quality, consent, context, and subjective experience remain essential. Recognising deficits in a personal history – for example as enduring experiences or periods marked by a lack of nurturing touch – may also become relevant in therapeutic settings.

“Our model proposes that affective touch should not only be understood as a momentary feeling of closeness or comfort, but as an experience that may become deeply inscribed in bodily and emotional memory processes. Particularly interesting is the idea that such traces may not always be consciously accessible, yet could still shape how safe, connected, or trusting people experience relationships.”

Henrik Bischoff, Sigmund Freud Private University, first author

“Our model proposes understanding affective touch not merely as a momentary feeling of closeness or comfort, but as an experience that can be deeply inscribed in bodily and emotional memory processes. Particularly interesting is the fact that such traces are not always consciously recalled, yet could still influence how secure, connected, or trusting people experience relationships.”

Henrik Bischoff, Sigmund Freud Private University, First Author