This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7992299.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Scientists find 'pleasure nerves' Scientists find 'pleasure nerves'
(1 day later)
Scientists say they understand more about how the body responds to pleasurable touch.Scientists say they understand more about how the body responds to pleasurable touch.
A team, including scientists from the Unilever company, have identified a class of nerve fibres in the skin which specifically send pleasure messages.A team, including scientists from the Unilever company, have identified a class of nerve fibres in the skin which specifically send pleasure messages.
And people had to be stroked at a certain speed - 4-5cm per second - to activate the pleasure sensation.And people had to be stroked at a certain speed - 4-5cm per second - to activate the pleasure sensation.
They say the study, published in Nature Neuroscience, could help understand how touch sustains human relationships.They say the study, published in Nature Neuroscience, could help understand how touch sustains human relationships.
There are some mechanisms in place that are associated with behaviour and reward which are there to ensure relationships continue Professor Francis McGloneThere are some mechanisms in place that are associated with behaviour and reward which are there to ensure relationships continue Professor Francis McGlone
For many years, scientists have been trying to understand the mechanisms behind how the body experiences pain, and the nerves involved in conveying those messages to the brain.For many years, scientists have been trying to understand the mechanisms behind how the body experiences pain, and the nerves involved in conveying those messages to the brain.
This is because people can suffer a great deal.This is because people can suffer a great deal.
Neuropathy, where the peripheral nervous system is damaged, can be very painful and sometimes the messaging system goes wrong a people feel pain even when there is no cause. Neuropathy, where the peripheral nervous system is damaged, can be very painful and sometimes the messaging system goes wrong and people feel pain even when there is no cause.
Hairy skinHairy skin
But the researchers involved in this work were looking to understand the opposite sensation - pleasure.But the researchers involved in this work were looking to understand the opposite sensation - pleasure.
This research, which also involved experts at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and at the University of North Carolina, recorded nerve responses in 20 people.This research, which also involved experts at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and at the University of North Carolina, recorded nerve responses in 20 people.
They then tested how people responded to having their forearm skin stroked at a range of different speeds.They then tested how people responded to having their forearm skin stroked at a range of different speeds.
They identified "C-tactile" nerve fibres as those stimulated when people said a touch had been pleasant.They identified "C-tactile" nerve fibres as those stimulated when people said a touch had been pleasant.
If the stroke was faster or slower than the optimum speed, the touch was not pleasurable and the nerve fibres were not activated.If the stroke was faster or slower than the optimum speed, the touch was not pleasurable and the nerve fibres were not activated.
The scientists also discovered that the C-tactile nerve fibres are only present on hairy skin, and are not found on the hand.The scientists also discovered that the C-tactile nerve fibres are only present on hairy skin, and are not found on the hand.
Professor Francis McGlone, now based at Unilever after an academic career where he carried out research into nerve response, says this is likely to be a deliberate "design".Professor Francis McGlone, now based at Unilever after an academic career where he carried out research into nerve response, says this is likely to be a deliberate "design".
"We believe this could be Mother Nature's way of ensuring that mixed messages are not sent to the brain when it is in use as a functional tool.""We believe this could be Mother Nature's way of ensuring that mixed messages are not sent to the brain when it is in use as a functional tool."
He said the speed at which people found arm-stroking pleasurable was the same as that which a mother uses to comfort a baby, or couples use to show affection.He said the speed at which people found arm-stroking pleasurable was the same as that which a mother uses to comfort a baby, or couples use to show affection.
Professor McGlone said it was part of the evolutionary mechanism that sustained relationships between adults, or with children.Professor McGlone said it was part of the evolutionary mechanism that sustained relationships between adults, or with children.
"Our primary impulse as humans is procreation, but there are some mechanisms in place that are associated with behaviour and reward which are there to ensure relationships continue.""Our primary impulse as humans is procreation, but there are some mechanisms in place that are associated with behaviour and reward which are there to ensure relationships continue."