Social touch plays a powerful role in human life, with important physical and mental health benefits development adulthood. Touch is central building the foundations of social interaction, attachment, cognition [1Field T. Touch. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA2003Google Scholar, 2Montagu A. Touching: The Human Significance Skin. Columbia University New York1971Google 3Harlow H.F. nature love.Am. Psychol. 1958; 13: 673-685Crossref Google 4Gallace Spence C. science interpersonal touch: an...

Abstract Multisensory integration is a powerful mechanism for constructing body awareness and key the sense of selfhood. Recent evidence has shown that specialised C tactile modality gives rise to feelings pleasant, affective touch, can enhance experience ownership during multisensory integration. Nevertheless, no study examined whether touch also modulate psychological identification with our face, hallmark identity. The current used enfacement illusion paradigm investigate role in...

<title>Abstract</title> Research suggests that it is crucial to better understand prepartum body image experiences as they are associated with various maternal and infant outcomes. However, the available evidence mixed. The lack of consensus reflects complexity this phenomenon need for greater emphasis on qualitative methods range nuances such experiences. In line a multisensory construct, involving sensations arise both within outside body, we set out explore external internal influences...

The understanding of eating disorders is hindered by the lack integration between existing psychosocial and neurobiological approaches. We address this problem developing a novel transdiagnostic computational approach to restriction decisions. first validated paradigm which extends an established monetary risk task involve body stimuli with values. used advanced behavioral data analysis large (total

Previous research points to two major hypotheses regarding the mechanisms by which touch can be experienced as erotogenic. The first concerns body part is applied (erogenous zones) and second modality of (sensual optimal in activating C Tactile afferents). In this study, we explored for time relation between those actual imagined social touch. a experiment, randomly assigned "Giver" "Receiver" roles within 19 romantic couples (20 females, 18 males, age 32.34 ± 8.71SD years) asked apply...

Self–other distinction (SOD) refers to the ability distinguish one’s own body, actions, and mental representations from those of others. Problems with SOD are considered be a key feature borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, empirical studies on in BPD scarce. Here, we present study providing preliminary support for usefulness validity self–other facial morphing task capture capacity sample nonclinical participants high (n = 30) low 32) features. Participants had watch video...

Background Parental well-being during pregnancy and early parenthood is critical for child development. Environmental stressors can significantly challenge parental well-being. Aims To investigate how COVID-19 associated restrictions influence mood parenting confidence of expectant parents those in parenthood, identifying barriers facilitators. Method We used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data from 590 infants (564 women) the most restrictive phase lockdown UK. included mixture...

Abstract Cosmetic surgery is ever more affordable and accessible, but carries physical psychological risks. Yet, no study to date has directly examined risk-taking behaviour under controlled conditions, beyond self-report in relation cosmetic attitudes. We used the Balloon Analogue Risk Task advanced computational modelling measure decision-making identify latent parameters driving associated with attitudes women history ( N = 265) a subsample of 24). taking was higher greater acceptance...

Pregnancy is a transformative time for women and their bodies, therefore thoughts feelings about the body understandably change during this period. While previous research has established impact of dissatisfaction on factors like antenatal attachment maternal mental health, there notable gap in understanding its long-term effects postnatal factors. This often due to high attrition rates longitudinal studies. Using retrospective measures could address issue, however measure pregnant not yet...

Communication to the lay audience is a critical skill in academia. To equip students with this skill, we developed new workshop and assessment. Postgraduate attended 1.5-hour taught by communication expert develop skills deliver engaging presentations. They were then asked 10-minute podcast present their research dissertation (including background, aims, methods, analysis, preliminary findings, challenges, importance) non-academic audience. Feedback from 15 postgraduate reflections four...

People tend to evaluate their own traits and abilities favourably such favourable self-perceptions extend attractiveness. However, the exact mechanism underlying this self-enhancement bias remains unclear. One possibility could be identification with attractive others through blurring of self-other boundaries. Across two experiments, we used enfacement illusion investigate effect others' attractiveness in multisensory perception self. In Experiment 1 (N = 35), participants received...

Background: Parental sense of control during pregnancy and early parenthood is critical for self-efficacy, parenting behaviour, child outcomes. Restrictions COVID-19 led to a decline in parental but less known about the impact prolonged restrictions. Aims: To investigate restrictions on expectant newborn parents’ experiences over decisions regarding parenting.Method: Quantitative qualitative survey data was collected from 130 parents approximately one year after first response were...

<title>Abstract</title> Background Parents’ experiences and their relationship to baby undergo various changes over the course of first year. This is particularly case for mothers, who still tend take on primary caregiver role in most families UK. Better understanding mothers experience year importance given impact parent-infant children’s socio-emotional development. Methods qualitative longitudinal study explored first-time mothers’ parenting confidence with from third trimester pregnancy...

The assumption that, during early motherhood, there is an intense physical and psychological connection between mother infant a sense that the belongs to maternal body ego has long been matter of theoretical discussion in psychoanalytic literature, yet empirical evidence scarce. This exploratory study investigated first-time mothers’ experiences bodily connectedness with their babies perception boundaries. To gain in-depth understanding experiences, semi-structured interviews were conducted...

Eating decisions depend on both appetitive and social motivation processes but the interactions between these motivations are poorly understood. We examine how women from nonclinical clinical samples with variable levels of eating restriction make value-based during an experimental task where monetary values coupled related to body appearance, such as value thinness. show that is associated less risk taking greater hesitancy when making decisions, this general tendency modulated by...

People tend to evaluate their own traits and abilities favourably such favourable self-perceptions extend attractiveness. However, the exact mechanism underlying this self-enhancement bias remains unclear one possibility could be identification with attractive others through blurring of self-other boundaries. Across two experiments, we used enfacement illusion investigate effect attractiveness in multisensory perception self. In a first experiment (N=35), participants were stroked on cheek...

Talking therapies are the first line of treatment for adolescent depression, yet dropout rates high. Despite parents being considered primary stakeholders in a child’s mental health treatment, there is lack qualitative research on their perspectives dropout. This study aimed to explore parents’ why children dropped out therapy. Interviews with 12 whose had therapy were purposively selected from larger dataset understanding stopped going analyzed using thematic analysis and five key themes...

Cosmetic surgery is ever more affordable and accessible, but carries physical psychological risks. Yet, no study to date has directly examined risk-taking behaviour under controlled conditions, beyond self-report in relation cosmetic attitudes. We used the Balloon Analogue Risk Task advanced computational modelling measure decision-making behaviour, identify latent parameters driving associated with attitudes women history (N = 265), a subsample of 24). Risk-taking was higher greater...

Background: Parents’ well-being during pregnancy and early parenthood is critical for children’s development. Environmental stressors can significantly challenge parents’ well-being.Aims: To investigate how COVID-19 associated restrictions influence mood parenting confidence of expectant parents those in parenthood, identifying barriers facilitators.Methods: We used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data from 590 infants (564 females) the most restrictive phase lockdown UK. Survey...

Background: Parents' well-being during pregnancy and early parenthood is crucial for healthy parent-infant relationships children's development. We examined how COVID-19 associated restrictions influence mood parenting confidence of expectant parents those in parenthood, identifying barriers facilitators. Methods: used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data from 590 infants (564 females) the first most restrictive phase lockdown UK. Survey included mixture forced-choice open-ended...