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Discover the Unseen: Top 5 Fun and Intriguing Facts About the Power of Touch

illustration of touch
Get ready to be touched by knowledge with these fascinating and entertaining fun facts all about the sense of touch!

1. Self-Tickle Fails Explained

Next time you attempt self-tickling and fail at being the feather of your own fancy, have no fear – it's merely science meddling in your endeavors: Our brains possess a sense of body ownership, which results in a less intense perception of self-touch compared to being touched by others or foreign objects, making any DIY tickle fest quite a challenge!
Source => ec.europa.eu

2. Lips and Tongue: Masters of Touch

Pucker up for a sensory surprise, Sherlock: The lips and tongue are the most touch-sensitive parts of the body, with almost double the spatial accuracy of our curious fingertips, and the entire trunk of the body has around the same number of touch receptors as just one hand.
Source => pages.jh.edu

3. Pet a Pooch, Boost Your Health

Next time you're feeling "ruff," try dog-o-therapy: Petting dogs has been shown to improve immune function and reduce the perception of pain, thanks to the release of feel-good hormones like oxytocin and endorphins.
Source => cnn.com

4. Trust-Building Handshakes

Next time you're suspicious of a stranger's intentions, just give 'em a hearty handshake – trust us, it's oxytocin-approved: Touching, such as through handshakes, releases oxytocin – known as the "bonding hormone" – which fosters trust and helps build new relationships, while also reducing stress and releasing feel-good hormones.
Source => dignityhealth.org

Manatees: The Touch Sensors of the Sea

5. Manatees: The Touch Sensors of the Sea

If manatees attended underwater nightclubs, they'd be known for their touchy-feely dance moves and VIP access to the "Hair Club for Sea Cows": These graceful creatures rely on their vast array of sensory hairs to navigate through their aquatic world. With subpar vision and a lack of echolocation skills, these whiskered wonders depend on their facial and postcranial hairs to detect changes in water flow and pinpoint their position. Trim those hairs, and you'll find manatees struggling to groove to their underwater beat.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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