In our everyday life, hugs are a frequent form of greeting, comfort, and expression of connection. But why do we actually hug people, and what are the physiological benefits of hugging?
Hugging has all to do with our sense of touch. This sense plays a role from the day we are born, allowing us to physically explore our surroundings and create social connections. This makes physical touch, such as hugging, a form of connection from a very young age.
Our sense of touch consists of two different systems: fast touch and slow touch. ‘Fast touch’ is a system of nerves that allow us to rapidly detect contact, such as if we were to burn ourselves (hence the name fast touch). ‘Slow touch’ is a population of recently discovered nerves called ‘c-tactile afferents,’ which process the emotional meaning of touch. These nerves have evolved to be activated by a specific kind of touch, such as a hug. When these nerves are activated, they work in the neural input stage of signalling and rewarding when we have social tactile interactions.
When someone hugs us, the stimulation of these ‘c-tactile afferents’ sends signals to the brain – via the spinal cord – which are transmitted to the brain’s emotion processing networks. This triggers neurochemical releases, such as oxytocin – the hormone associated with bonding and attachment – and endorphins along the brain’s reward pathways. It also triggers physical responses, such as a lowered heart rate, reducing feelings of stress.
There are many physical benefits to hugging that improve our health:
- Hugging helps improve sleep. Hugging is shown to lower cortisol levels, therefore reducing stress and allowing us to regulate our sleep better. While cortisol is a key hormone in our wake-sleep cycle, too much can cause fragmented sleep patterns and insomnia, which is why hugging can help give a more regular sleep cycle.
- It can lower your reactivity to stress. Studies show that infants during an early developmental period can benefit from the oxytocin release and cortisol drop that hugs give, as this produces higher levels of oxytocin receptors in the brain and lower levels of cortisol receptors in the brain. This could alter the way we process emotions, making us in general more reactive to socialising and bonding and less reactive to stress in the long term.
- Hugging can help us fight infections. While allowing us to regulate our hormones better, hugging can also benefit our immune response to infections. While stress can hinder the ability with which your body can defend against pathogens, hugging does the opposite. A study was done looking at the frequency at which 400 adults received and gave hugs; conclusions of the research found that the ‘huggers’ were incredibly less likely to get a cold and if they did, have less severe symptoms.
In conclusion, hugs are beneficial for mental and physical well-being, as well as strengthening bonds with our friends, family, and even pets. They allow us to regulate emotions and deal with the stresses of everyday life better. So, if you’re having a hard day or someone else is, why not give them a hug? It will probably make you feel just that little bit better.
