Why Do Animals Like Being Petted

Why do we also like to pat on the matter?Do you think it will turn into a handsome prince? But why exactly do they like it? And do we humans like it? Let’s find out together. Read: why animals love to be petted

Thick skin

Dogs love belly rubs. Cats purr when you scratch a particular spot between their ears. Hugs bring us comfort and joy. If you hit something with your hand, a quick hand rub will relieve the pain. While not all touch is pleasurable, all mammals seem to agree that a longer, lighter stroke feels good. transgenic mice, whose MRGPRB4+ neurons are modified to glow when activated (optical genetics). The team found that pet-like strokes – and only this type of touch – at the ambient temperature of human skin activated nerve cells, creating pleasurable sensations in the animals. relatively wide distance. Their layout is what makes them react only to long swipe movements and not to more localized movements like pinching or poking.Orange pet cat.Image credit Linnaea Mallette: We also have these nerve cells built in the hair follicles of the parts of the skin covered with hair. This suggests that MRGPRB4+ neurons respond to skin touch, but not hair-transmitted movements. This is also supported by the fact that a person can experience pleasant sensations from caressing, hugging or caressing even after hair loss or shaving; If the MRGPRB4+ neurons were associated with hair fibers, rather than follicles, this would not happen. ,” explains David Anderson, one of the study’s co-authors. “Because sensation is connected to hair follicles, animals with a lot of hair, like cats and dogs, can feel the waves. enjoys being caressed. The neurons that detect caresses may be connected to higher brain circuits to induce reward or pleasure. “To validate these findings, the team further modified several mice so that the same neurons could be biochemically activated through drug injection. When given a choice between two chambers, a control chamber where nothing happened and one containing drug-induced touch sensations, the rats chose the latter. This implies that the animals actually perceive the sensations induced by MRGPRB4+ neuronal activation as interesting. The mice also showed less signs of stress after receiving their chemical cuddles. It is mediated by nerve cells connected to hair follicles in the skin and is caused only by deliberate, slow, gentle and relatively long strokes of the skin or hair. But we’re still missing a reason why – why did mammals evolve to experience pleasure from these types of touches?

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Make friend

Grooming.Image credited by Anthony / Pixabay. Our wild cousins ​​groom each other to remove harmful parasites from their fur as they cannot do it themselves. But previous research has shown that they engage in this behavior more than is necessary from a purely hygiene standpoint. So while grooming may have a very practical, even important, purpose, primates also seem to simply get away with it and do it for fun or to socialize. That’s how they hang out. Hugs, handshakes, and pats on the shoulder, these are small gestures that can go a long way in strengthening family or social ties. then developed to encourage activity with positive feelings. Such behavior may represent an evolutionary advantage as it promotes health, hygiene, cohesion and trust among groups, thereby increasing the chances of survival of all members. Alternatively, it’s possible that this cuddling helps young mammals stay warm by snuggling with their parents and siblings, thereby providing a selective advantage at an early age. , social interaction and good mood. Activation of the MRGPRB4+ neurons releases endorphins and oxytocin into the brain (these help with pain, relaxation, and bonding) and can lead to a temporary decrease in cortisol (a stress hormone) levels. This chemical cocktail puts us or our pets at ease, knocks out aggression in the bud and induces a state of euphoria.

In your brain

Read more: why can’t I hear people discord | The top Q&AOne article published in NeuroImage in 2016 looked at patterns of “brain activation in 40 minutes of pleasant touch” – which sounds pretty interesting. The authors worked with 25 participants “who were stroked for 40 minutes with a soft brush while they were scanned with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging [fMRI]and rate the comfort level of the brush stroke. “They found that stroking initially strongly activated neurons in the somatosensory cortex, although this intensity gradually decreased over time – possibly due to habitual stimulation. The habit of arousal is what makes you less sensitive to a particular smell after a period of exposure to that smell, why don’t you end up feeling the chair under you or the smartphone in the right pocket your. gyroscope (OFC, also known as orbital cortex) and ascending gyrus, stabilizing at the 20 min mark. Certain structures of the cerebral cortex (posterior lobe) are also more active during this time. The team believes that this increase in brain activity depends on the subjective pleasure each participant feels – pleasure is the brain’s way of rewarding you for doing something. In particular, a study published in the journal Brain in 2016, depressed subjects showed weaker neural connections between the medial (medial) OFC and the hippocampus, which is involved in memory. . They also showed stronger neural connections between the lateral OFC and other areas of the brain. The study involved 421 patients with major depressive disorder and 488 control subjects. Exactly what those weaker connections mean is not yet understood, but it does suggest that people with depression may find it more difficult to access and recall happy or positive memories. . At the same time, the lateral OFC – which has stronger connections with other brain regions – is involved in processing or managing non-reward rewards: the science of ‘punishment’. in the journal Current Biology last year reported that “lateral OFCs are a promising new stimulus target for the treatment of mood disorders” such as depression. The team worked with 25 subjects, using electrodes to stimulate different regions of their brains while monitoring and recording their (self-reported) moods through a daily questionnaire. . group achieved using their direct stimulation techniques. So a gentle touch could literally be what you need when you’re dealing with depression. And hey, if there’s no one around to pet you, grab a brush, erase 20 minutes in your schedule and start hacking your OFC. more: why is my cat sitting on me | Top Q&A

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