Hands-on Research: The Science of Touch A pat on the back, a
caress of the arm—these are everyday, incidental gestures that
we usually take for granted, thanks to our amazingly dexterous
hands. But after years spent immersed in the science of touch, I
can tell you that they are far more profound than we usually
realize: They are our primary language of compassion, and a
primary means for spreading compassion. In recent years, a wave
of studies has documented some incredible emotional and physical
health benefits that come from touch. This research is
suggesting that touch is truly fundamental to human
communication, bonding, and health. In my own lab, in a study
led by my former student Matt Hertenstein (now a professor at
DePauw University), we asked whether humans can clearly
communicate compassion through touch. Here’s what we did: We
built a barrier in our lab that separated two strangers from
each other. One person stuck his or her arm through the barrier
and waited. The other person was given a list of