Therapeutic Alliance as Active Inference: The Role of Therapeutic Touch and Synchrony

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: Feb. 17, 2022

Recognizing and aligning individuals' unique adaptive beliefs or "priors" through cooperative communication is critical to establishing a therapeutic relationship alliance. Using active inference, we present an empirical integrative account of the biobehavioral mechanisms that underwrite relationships. A significant mode alliances-and potential synchrony relationships-is ostensive cues generated by repetitive coupling during dynamic touch. Established models speak role affectionate touch in developing communication, interpersonal interactions, wide variety benefits for patients all ages; both neurophysiologically behaviorally. The purpose this article argue importance alliance and, ultimately, between practitioner patient. We briefly overview prosocial clinical interactions. then discuss how mental state alignment-in intentional communication-are accomplished using inference. alignment inference facilitates communication. ensuing extended include (C-) tactile afferents realizing beneficial effect synchrony. conclude proposing method synchronizing effects concept

Language: Английский

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A thalamo-preoptic pathway promotes social grooming in rodents

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(21), P. 4593 - 4606.e8

Published: Sept. 15, 2022

Language: Английский

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Tactile emoticons: Conveying social emotions and intentions with manual and robotic tactile feedback during social media communications

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(6), P. e0304417 - e0304417

Published: June 12, 2024

Touch offers important non-verbal possibilities for socioaffective communication. Yet most digital communications lack capabilities regarding exchanging affective tactile messages (tactile emoticons). Additionally, previous studies on emoticons have not capitalised knowledge about the effects of certain mechanoreceptors in human skin, e.g., C-Tactile (CT) system. Here, we examined whether gentle manual stroking delivered velocities known to optimally activate CT system (defined as 'tactile emoticons'), during lab-simulated social media could convey increased feelings support and other prosocial intentions compared (1) either touch at sub-optimal velocities, or (2) standard visual emoticons. Participants (N = 36) felt more intent with CT-optimal In a second, preregistered study 52), investigated combining emoticons, this time by soft robotic device, enhance perception affect participants' physiological measures (e.g., skin conductance rate) comparison alone. Visuotactile conveyed overall anxious participants affected than The results suggest that emotional can be meaningfully enhanced

Language: Английский

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Therapeutic Alliance as Active Inference: The Role of Therapeutic Touch and Biobehavioural Synchrony in Musculoskeletal Care

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: June 30, 2022

Touch is recognised as crucial for survival, fostering cooperative communication, accelerating recovery, reducing hospital stays, and promoting overall wellness the therapeutic alliance. In this hypothesis theory paper, we present an entwined model that combines touch alignment active inference to explain how brain develops “priors” necessary health care provider engage with patient effectively. We appeal empirically integrative neurophysiological behavioural mechanisms underwrite synchronous relationships through touch. Specifically, offer a formal framework understanding – explaining role of hands-on in developing alliance synchrony between providers their patients musculoskeletal care. first review importance its clinical facilitating formation solid regulating allostasis. then consider used clinically promote demonstrate empathy, overcome uncertainty, infer mental states others lens inference. conclude plays achieving successful outcomes adapting previous priors create intertwined beliefs. The ensuing may help healthcare field use strengthen alliance, minimise prediction errors (a.k.a., free energy), thereby recovery from physical psychological impairments.

Language: Английский

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Rapid Processing of Observed Touch through Social Perceptual Brain Regions: An EEG-fMRI Fusion Study

Journal of Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 43(45), P. 7700 - 7711

Published: Oct. 23, 2023

Seeing social touch triggers a strong social-affective response that involves multiple brain networks, including visual, perceptual, and somatosensory systems. Previous studies have identified the specific functional role of each system, but little is known about speed directionality information flow. Is this extracted via perceptual system or from simulation cortex? To address this, we examined spatiotemporal neural processing observed touch. Twenty-one human participants (seven males) watched 500-ms video clips showing nonsocial during electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. Visual features were rapidly in brain, beginning at 90 150 ms after onset, respectively. Combining EEG data with magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) our prior study same stimuli reveals first arises early visual cortex (EVC), then temporoparietal junction posterior superior temporal sulcus (TPJ/pSTS), finally cortex. EVC TPJ/pSTS uniquely explain patterns, while does not contribute to patterns alone, suggesting may flow Together, these findings show processed quickly, within timeframe feedforward processes, meaning by pathway. Such rapid be vital its effective use interaction.

Language: Английский

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Pain control based on oscillatory brain activity using transcranial alternating current stimulation: An integrative review

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17

Published: Jan. 19, 2023

Developing effective tools and strategies to relieve chronic pain is a high-priority scientific clinical goal. In particular, the brain regions related processing have been investigated as potential targets by non-invasive stimulation (NIBS). addition elucidating relationship between oscillatory activity, transcranial alternating current (tACS), which can non-invasively entrain activity modulate communication, has attracted attention possible technique control pain. This review focuses on use of tACS through manipulation its applications. Several studies reported that single reduces normalizing abnormal in patients with Interpersonal approaches based inter-brain synchrony manipulate communication may result relief via prosocial effects. Pain encoded spatiotemporal neural represents integration cognitive, emotional-affective, sensorimotor aspects Therefore, future should seek identify pathological therapeutic target for tACS. conclusion, could be re-establishing assisting social interaction, it might help develop novel control.

Language: Английский

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The effects of parental presence on amygdala and mPFC activation during fear conditioning: An exploratory study

Developmental Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 28, 2024

Learning safe versus dangerous cues is crucial for survival. During development, parents can influence fear learning by buffering their children's stress response and increasing exploration of potentially aversive stimuli. Rodent findings suggest that these behavioral effects are mediated through parental presence modulation the amygdala medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Here, we investigated whether similar mPFC during occurs in humans. Using a within-subjects design, (final N = 48, 6-17 years, mean 11.61, SD 2.84, 60% females/40% males) neuroimaging data 39, 12.03, 2.98, 59% females/41% were acquired classical conditioning task, which included CS+ followed an noise (US; 75% reinforcement rate) CS-. Conditioning occurred once physical contact with participant's parent alone (order counterbalanced). Region interest analyses examined unconditioned BOLD activation to US (vs. implicit baseline) CS-). Results showed presentation, reduced centromedial activity, suggesting response. In learned stimuli, activity (relative CS-), although this result did not survive multiple comparisons' correction. These preliminary indicate modulate exposure conditioned providing insight into neural mechanisms act as social buffer learning. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This study used within-participant experimental design investigate how absence) affects youth's responses task. Parental stimulus (US), (UR). threat cue (CS+) compared safety (CS-), possible

Language: Английский

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Could neurofeedback improve therapist-patient communication? Considering the potential for neuroscience informed examinations of the psychotherapeutic relationship

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 161, P. 105680 - 105680

Published: April 17, 2024

Language: Английский

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The Neurophysiological Impact of Touch-Based Therapy: Insights and Clinical Benefits

Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 23(12)

Published: Dec. 11, 2024

The evidence on how touch-based therapy acts the brain activity opens novel cues for treatment of chronic pain conditions which no definitive exists. Touch-based therapies, particularly those involving C-tactile (CT)-optimal touch, have gained increasing attention their potential in modulating perception and improving psychological well-being. While previous studies focused biomechanical effects manual therapy, recent research has shifted towards understanding neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these interventions. CT-optimal characterized by gentle stroking that activates CT afferents, may be used to reduce enhance Further is needed fully elucidate involved establish therapeutic efficacy touch various clinical populations.

Language: Английский

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I wanna hold your hand: Handholding is preferred over gentle stroking for emotion regulation

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 18(4), P. e0284161 - e0284161

Published: April 6, 2023

Social touch is an important form of interpersonal emotion regulation. In recent years, the regulation effects two types have been studied extensively: handholding and stroking (specifically skin with C-tactile afferents on forearm, i.e. C-touch). While some studies compare their effectiveness, mixed results, no study to date has examined which type subjectively preferred. Given potential bidirectional communication provided by handholding, we hypothesized that regulate intense emotions, participants would prefer handholding. four pre-registered online (total N = 287), rated stroking, presented in short videos, as methods. Study 1 reception preference hypothetical situations. 2 replicated while also examining provision preferences. 3 preferences blood/injection phobia injection 4 who recently given birth recalled receiving during childbirth all studies, preferred over stroking; reported more than stroking. This was especially evident Studies 1–3 emotionally These results demonstrate a regulation, situations, support importance two-way sensory for via touch. We discuss possible additional mechanisms, including top-down processing cultural priming.

Language: Английский

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