Gentle
Strokes
Nerve fibers called
CT afferents, clustered
in the arms and back,
can make people
feel pleasant—and
warmly connected to
others—when those
areas are brushed or
stroked. University
of Virginia neuroscien-
tists Meghan Puglia
and Kevin Pelphrey,
exploring possible links
between unusual CT
response and autism or
other developmental
differences, are record-
ing the brain activity
of typically devel-
oping babies such as
nine-month-old Ian
Boardman, here being
brushed by Puglia.
maropa
(Maropa)
#1