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Abstract
Observers can simulate aspects of other people's tactile experiences. We asked whether
they do so when faced with full-body social interactions, whether emerging representations
go beyond basic sensorimotor mirroring, and whether they depend on processing goals
and inclinations. In an EEG/ERP study, we presented line-drawn, dyadic interactions
with and without affectionate touch. In an explicit and an implicit task, participants
categorized images into touch versus no-touch and same versus opposite sex interactions,
respectively. Modulations of central Rolandic rhythms implied that affectionate touch
displays engaged sensorimotor mechanisms. Additionally, the late positive potential
(LPP) being larger for images with as compared to without touch pointed to an involvement
of higher order socio-affective mechanisms. Task and sex modulated touch perception.
Sensorimotor responding, indexed by Rolandic rhythms, was fairly independent of the
task but appeared less effortful in women than in men. Touch induced socio-affective
responding, indexed by the LPP, declined from explicit to implicit processing in women
and disappeared in men. In sum, this study provides first evidence that vicarious
touch from full-body social interactions entails shared sensorimotor as well as socio-affective
experiences. Yet, mental representations of touch at a socio-affective level are more
likely when touch is goal relevant and observers are female. Together, these results
outline the conditions under which touch in visual media may be usefully employed
to socially engage observers.