Many of us know that it feels good to receive a hug, but we don't often stop and think about the other positive effects of hugging, says Prof Michael Banissy, a social neuroscientist at the University of Bristol and the author of When We Touch. For starters, hugs can affect physical and psychological health by releasing endorphins in the brain.
The basic method of social bonding for creating relationships is through physical touch, says Prof Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Oxford and author of The Social Brain. This triggers a highly specialised neural system in the skin, responding to specific stimulation that calms and relaxes.
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