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Back Strokes Calm Babies, Study Finds
16 Jul
Summary
- Stroking infants' backs reduces movement and calms them.
- Mouse experiments showed lower heart rates and easier sleep.
- A specific gene in the hypothalamus is key to this calming effect.
Research conducted by a Japanese team, including members from Toho University, has revealed that stroking the backs of infants and young mice has a notable calming effect. This physical contact was observed to reduce spontaneous movements in human infants and toddlers, while similar experiments on mice showed decreased heart rates, facilitated sleep, and reduced stress responses.
The study involved mother-child pairs and young mice, meticulously measuring movement and physiological responses. Results indicated that stroking the back was particularly effective in calming, compared to other areas. Researchers pinpointed a specific gene within the hypothalamus, a brain region involved in sleep and stress, whose expression decreased with back stroking and was essential for the calming effect.
These findings, published in Communications Biology, underscore the critical role of early physical contact with caregivers. The research is expected to inform child-rearing practices and offer support for children experiencing issues such as tactile hypersensitivity or anxiety, providing scientific evidence for the benefits of gentle touch.
