Adult studies have shown that observed interpersonal touch provides crucial information about others' emotional states. Yet, despite the unique communicative function of touch during development, very little is known about infants' sensitivity to the emotional valence of observed touches. To investigate this issue, we measured facial electromyographic (EMG) activity in response to positive (caress) and negative (scratches) observed touches in a sample of 11-month-old infants. Facial EMG activity was measured over the zygomaticus major (ZM) and corrugator supercilii muscles, respectively involved in positive (i.e., smiling) and negative (i.e., frowning) facial expressions. Results have shown distinct activations of the ZM during the observation of scratches and caresses. In particular, significantly greater activation of the ZM (smiling muscle) emerged specifically in response to the observation of caresses compared to scratches. Our finding suggests that, in infancy, observed affective touches can evoke emotional facial reactions.

Addabbo, M., Licht, V., Turati, C. (2024). Infants' facial electromyographic responses to the sight of emotional interpersonal touch. INFANCY, 29(5 (September/October 2024)), 660-671 [10.1111/infa.12600].

Infants' facial electromyographic responses to the sight of emotional interpersonal touch

Addabbo M.
;
Licht V.;Turati C.
2024

Abstract

Adult studies have shown that observed interpersonal touch provides crucial information about others' emotional states. Yet, despite the unique communicative function of touch during development, very little is known about infants' sensitivity to the emotional valence of observed touches. To investigate this issue, we measured facial electromyographic (EMG) activity in response to positive (caress) and negative (scratches) observed touches in a sample of 11-month-old infants. Facial EMG activity was measured over the zygomaticus major (ZM) and corrugator supercilii muscles, respectively involved in positive (i.e., smiling) and negative (i.e., frowning) facial expressions. Results have shown distinct activations of the ZM during the observation of scratches and caresses. In particular, significantly greater activation of the ZM (smiling muscle) emerged specifically in response to the observation of caresses compared to scratches. Our finding suggests that, in infancy, observed affective touches can evoke emotional facial reactions.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
infant, EMG, touch
English
14-giu-2024
2024
29
5 (September/October 2024)
660
671
reserved
Addabbo, M., Licht, V., Turati, C. (2024). Infants' facial electromyographic responses to the sight of emotional interpersonal touch. INFANCY, 29(5 (September/October 2024)), 660-671 [10.1111/infa.12600].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/509879
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