Neural Pathway for the Sensation of Pleasant Touch Identified
Scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, identified a neural circuit and neuropeptide in mice that transmits the sensation of pleasant touch from the skin to the brain.
The neural pathway for pleasant touch works in a similar manner to those pathways that transmit itching or pain sensations. Researchers were able to identify and isolate the pleasant-touch neural pathway by devising an experiment in which mice were able to choose between a chamber where they received pleasant brushing or one where they received no stimulus of any kind. The mice preferred the chamber where they would be brushed. Scientists found that a certain neuropeptide, prokinecticin 2, was responsible for transmitting the sensation of pleasant touch, and that mice bred without the neuropeptide were unable to sense pleasant touch but reacted normally to itchy, painful, or other stimuli.
Principal investigator Zhou-Feng Chen, PhD, director of the Center for the Study of Itch & Sensory Disorders at Washington University, says the findings are “important, because now that we know which neuropeptide and receptor transmit only pleasant touch sensations, it may be possible to enhance pleasant touch signals without interfering with other circuits, which is crucial because pleasant touch boosts several hormones in the brain that are essential for social interactions and mental health.”
The study was published in the journal Science. Read the abstract at https://doi.org/ 10.1126/science.abn2479.
Pelvic Tilt with Dr. Joe Muscolino
Dr. Joe Muscolino talks about the three different types of pelvic tilt, how forward head posture translates to the pelvis, and treatment approaches that can be used during and after the session.
abmp.com/podcasts/ep-229-pelvic-tilt-dr-joe-muscolino
Brisk Walking May Slow Biological Aging
A study published in Communications Biology examined genetic data from more than 400,000 middle-aged UK adults and found that a faster walking pace was associated with “younger” biological age markers, regardless of the actual amount of physical activity.
The study is one of the first to compare genetic data with self-reported walking speeds and measurement of movement intensity from fitness tracking devices worn by participants. Previously published research has shown that just 10 minutes of brisk walking a day is associated with longer life expectancy, and that brisk walkers have up to 20 years’ greater life expectancy compared to slow walkers.
Paddy Dempsey, PhD, lead author on the study, says the research “suggests measures such as a habitually slower walking speed are a simple way of identifying people at greater risk of chronic disease or unhealthy aging, and that activity intensity may play an important role in optimizing interventions. For example, in addition to increasing overall walking, those who are able could aim to increase the number of steps completed in a given time (e.g., by walking faster to the bus stop). However, this requires further investigation.”
Read the full study online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03323-x.
Take Extra Care
Each time we experience a national tragedy, each time we share a collective pain, the treatment rooms of massage therapists and bodyworkers become even more of a sacred space. Remembering you may not know all that your client brings to the table is both essential and humbling.
abmp.com/updates/blog-posts/take-extra-care
Noriko Smith: Finding Life Through Oncology Massage
Noriko Smith was one of the winners of ABMP’s Massage is for EveryBody 2021 contest, and we wanted to share more of her story, which exemplifies the inclusive values of this campaign. Please join us in celebrating Noriko!
abmp.com/updates/blog-posts/noriko-smith-finding-life-through-oncology-massage