Affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditions
BackgroundGamma wave activity in the sensorimotor cortex is a critical neural mechanism associated with proprioceptive processing, which is essential for motor coordination, balance, and spatial orientation. The modulation of gamma oscillations by different types of tactile stimuli, including affect...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1538428/full |
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| author | Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz José Antonio Mingorance José Antonio Mingorance José Antonio Mingorance Francesc Mestre-Sansó Vicent Canals Yannick Bleyenheuft Pedro Montoya Pedro Montoya Inmaculada Riquelme Inmaculada Riquelme Inmaculada Riquelme |
| author_facet | Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz José Antonio Mingorance José Antonio Mingorance José Antonio Mingorance Francesc Mestre-Sansó Vicent Canals Yannick Bleyenheuft Pedro Montoya Pedro Montoya Inmaculada Riquelme Inmaculada Riquelme Inmaculada Riquelme |
| author_sort | Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundGamma wave activity in the sensorimotor cortex is a critical neural mechanism associated with proprioceptive processing, which is essential for motor coordination, balance, and spatial orientation. The modulation of gamma oscillations by different types of tactile stimuli, including affective touch, is not well understood, particularly in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder.AimsThis study aims to explore how affective touch influences gamma oscillatory activity and proprioceptive performance in children with typical development, cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorders.Methods and proceduresEEG data were recorded from participants during passive wrist mobilizations under three conditions: following an affective touch stimulus, after a non-affective touch stimulus, and with no tactile stimulation. Time-frequency analysis of low gamma activity (30–45 Hz) on the left somatosensory cortex was conducted for each condition. Proprioceptive performance was assessed through participants’ accuracy in identifying wrist positions. Proprioception and pleasantness of affective and non-affective touch were also assessed.ResultsAffective touch increased proprioceptive gamma power density. Children with cerebral palsy had poorer proprioception and higher brain gamma power density for processing movement than children with typical development or autism, and their proprioception worsened with non-affective touch.Conclusion and implicationsThese findings highlight the potential of affective touch to modulate gamma oscillatory activity and enhance proprioceptive function, particularly in children with cerebral palsy. The results underscore the importance of incorporating emotionally meaningful sensory inputs in therapeutic interventions to support proprioceptive and motor function in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc32473ff72844108577872a62987aac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc32473ff72844108577872a62987aac2025-02-11T06:59:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-02-011910.3389/fnhum.2025.15384281538428Affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditionsÁlvaro Sabater-Gárriz0Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz1Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz2Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz3José Antonio Mingorance4José Antonio Mingorance5José Antonio Mingorance6Francesc Mestre-Sansó7Vicent Canals8Yannick Bleyenheuft9Pedro Montoya10Pedro Montoya11Inmaculada Riquelme12Inmaculada Riquelme13Inmaculada Riquelme14Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainDepartment of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainHealth Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, SpainBalearic ASPACE Foundation, Marratxí, SpainResearch Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainDepartment of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainHealth Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, SpainIndustrial Engineering and Construction Department, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, SpainBalearic ASPACE Foundation, Marratxí, SpainInstitute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, BelgiumResearch Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainHealth Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, SpainResearch Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainDepartment of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainHealth Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, SpainBackgroundGamma wave activity in the sensorimotor cortex is a critical neural mechanism associated with proprioceptive processing, which is essential for motor coordination, balance, and spatial orientation. The modulation of gamma oscillations by different types of tactile stimuli, including affective touch, is not well understood, particularly in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder.AimsThis study aims to explore how affective touch influences gamma oscillatory activity and proprioceptive performance in children with typical development, cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorders.Methods and proceduresEEG data were recorded from participants during passive wrist mobilizations under three conditions: following an affective touch stimulus, after a non-affective touch stimulus, and with no tactile stimulation. Time-frequency analysis of low gamma activity (30–45 Hz) on the left somatosensory cortex was conducted for each condition. Proprioceptive performance was assessed through participants’ accuracy in identifying wrist positions. Proprioception and pleasantness of affective and non-affective touch were also assessed.ResultsAffective touch increased proprioceptive gamma power density. Children with cerebral palsy had poorer proprioception and higher brain gamma power density for processing movement than children with typical development or autism, and their proprioception worsened with non-affective touch.Conclusion and implicationsThese findings highlight the potential of affective touch to modulate gamma oscillatory activity and enhance proprioceptive function, particularly in children with cerebral palsy. The results underscore the importance of incorporating emotionally meaningful sensory inputs in therapeutic interventions to support proprioceptive and motor function in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1538428/fullautismcerebral palsygamma oscillationsaffective touchproprioceptionsensorimotor integration |
| spellingShingle | Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro Sabater-Gárriz José Antonio Mingorance José Antonio Mingorance José Antonio Mingorance Francesc Mestre-Sansó Vicent Canals Yannick Bleyenheuft Pedro Montoya Pedro Montoya Inmaculada Riquelme Inmaculada Riquelme Inmaculada Riquelme Affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditions Frontiers in Human Neuroscience autism cerebral palsy gamma oscillations affective touch proprioception sensorimotor integration |
| title | Affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditions |
| title_full | Affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditions |
| title_fullStr | Affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditions |
| title_short | Affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditions |
| title_sort | affective touch enhances low gamma activity during hand proprioceptive perception in children with different neurodevelopmental conditions |
| topic | autism cerebral palsy gamma oscillations affective touch proprioception sensorimotor integration |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1538428/full |
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