A touch-scaffolded model of human prosociality. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Su, Jinlong; Su, Yanjie
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 92(2018)
• Page Start: 453
• Page End: 463
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Prosociality -- Allo-touch -- C-tactile afferents -- Evolution -- Human development; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Current explanations focus on the role of complex cognitive processes in human prosociality. We propose that allo-touch plays important roles in the evolution and development of human prosociality. The C tactile afferent is evolved hardware that makes the allo-touch – prosociality connection possible. Early maternal touch contributes to infants' development of nascent prosociality. Oxytocin and endogenous opioids are important neuropeptides that facilitate the allo-touch – prosociality connection. Abstract: For centuries, scholars have been puzzled by the distinct human prosociality. A variety of explanations have been proposed to unveil the mystery of it and nearly all these explanations have focused on the role of complex cognitive processes. In this paper, we propose a novel hypothesis that human prosociality is touch-scaffolded. We argue that early tactile stimulation such as maternal touch serves as the basic component that enables the emergence of nascent human prosociality. During this process, C-tactile afferents along with many neuropeptides, such as oxytocin and endogenous opioids, play pivotal roles in the touch – prosociality connection by facilitating the formation of an intimate caregiver-infant bond and the development of a positive social schema. Our model provides a different perspective on the development of human prosociality and builds a bridge between the human tactile system and high-level psychology – human prosociality.