Gently stroking a partner's inner forearm at approximately five centimeters per second—the speed at which cherry blossoms fall—can lead to substantial improvements in mood and happiness, according to a study by researchers at Karoli Gaspar University in Hungary.
The technique, involving a soft paintbrush drawing a line along the inner forearm between the wrist and elbow, was found to increase mood scores by 40 to 50 percent in participants who were intentionally placed in a negative mood. This effect was most pronounced when the stroking was performed by a romantic partner, compared to a researcher or no stroking at all.
In the experiment, 110 men and women were asked about their relationship satisfaction. A 10cm line was drawn on their inner right forearm, and electrodes were attached to their chests to monitor heart rhythm. Participants were shown images designed to evoke negative emotions before some received the stroking treatment.
When a romantic partner administered the slow, gentle stroking for three minutes, mood scores improved by up to 50 percent for both men and women, even if they reported not being entirely satisfied with their relationship. The mood improvement was approximately 20 percentage points higher than when a researcher performed the stroking.
Researchers theorize that the effectiveness of this tactile stimulation is due to C-tactile fibres in the skin. These nerve fibers, found in hairy skin, are thought to respond to slow, skin-to-skin contact by promoting social bonding and reducing stress.
The findings, published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, suggest that this method could potentially be integrated into couples therapy, especially for individuals who respond well to such touch, even during emotionally challenging times.
