There's a deep psychological reason why warm hugs feel so good to our brains
This isn’t the first time warm hugs have been studied, nor is it the first time to determine they have a positive impact on our well being.
The perception of warmth and cold isn’t just something we feel on our skin — these sensations can influence our emotions, sense of self, and mental health, according to researchers from Queen Mary University London, who recently published a study on the connection between thermoception, or the perception and sensation of temperature, and self-awareness.
"Temperature is one of our most ancient senses," says Dr. Laura Crucianelli, Lecturer in Psychology at Queen Mary University of London.
"Warmth is one of the earliest signals of protection -- we feel it in the womb, in early caregiving, and whenever someone holds us close. It keeps us alive, but it also helps us feel like ourselves. By studying how the brain interprets warmth and cold, we can begin to understand how the body shapes the mind."
For their paper, Dr. Crucianelli and her colleague Professor Gerardo Salvato of the University of Pavia analyzed decades of research across several disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, and clinical science.
Warm hugs = security
A warm hug is more than a friendly embrace: It reinforces our self-perception and makes us feel more secure.
"When we hug, the combination of tactile and thermal signals increases our sense of body ownership, so we are more connected to our embodied sense of self,” Dr. Crucianelli says.
“Feeling a warm touch on the skin enhances our ability to sense ourselves from the inside and recognize our own existence. We feel, 'this is my body, and I am grounded in it.'"
This isn’t the first time warm hugs have been studied, nor is it the first time to determine they have a positive impact on our well being.
A separate 2021 study found the most pleasant hugs last for between 5 and 10 seconds.
Thermal cues and sense of self
The researchers note that many patients suffering from mental health conditions like eating disorders, anxiety, and depression are often feel disconnected from their bodies or experience a weakened sense of self.
“We now know from experimental studies that thermal signals play a fundamental role in clinical conditions,” Professor Gerardo Salvato says in a statement.
“People with altered temperature regulation and temperature perception, due to a brain stroke, may develop pathological conditions according to which they do not recognize part of their bodies as belonging to themselves."
The authors say a better understanding of how thermal cues shape the “skin-to-brain” conversation could aid in the development of better mental health interventions and therapies.
Climate change and thermoception
The authors say that exposure to extreme temperatures from climate change could impact our mood, self-awareness, and stress levels.
Several other studies have also concluded the prolonged exposure to extreme heat can have negative health impacts that affect bodily functions.
Past research has also looked into the link between extreme temperatures and mental health.
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