2008 Woodie Awards
Science Q & A
Q. Can people be born without a sense of touch?
Rachael Federico
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Sci/Tech
A. There is plenty of literature written about sensory disabilities such as blindness and deafness. As we age, our sense of taste becomes less and less acute-thus all the sarcastic jokes about elderly people and their partiality to salt. I even know someone who was born without a sense of smell (it comes in handy in many cases, though sometimes he needs a gentle reminder to shower). However, the most vital sense, our sense of touch, is generally taken for granted.
While babies can be born without this sense, they often fail to thrive and many of them perish. The problem in these cases is an ineffective nerve communication between their skin and brain. Why these infants have difficulty surviving is another question altogether. A National Geographic article from 2002 written by Joel Swerdlow explains that "Laboratory experiments decades ago, now considered unethical and inhumane, kept baby monkeys from being touched by their mothers. It made no difference that the babies could see, hear, and smell their mothers; without touching, the babies became apathetic and failed to progress." There are similar effects in infant humans. Children who live in orphanages with too high of a child to attendant ratio also generally experience psychological setbacks, as well as higher levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. High percentages of these children do not survive past infancy, though, of course, there are other factors involved, such as malnutrition and illness. Nevertheless, scientists can confidently conclude that there is a link between experiencing touch during infancy and one's ability to thrive.
Other animal studies have pointed to a host of other elements related to touch during infancy. Animals that are touched on a regular basis grow faster, demonstrate more physical activity, tolerate stress better, and have more effective immune systems. One website claims that "Human neonates, preemies, and infants who have been touched and held regularly do much better than those who have not. Children who are picked up, cuddled, cradled, rocked, petted, and stroked have been shown to gain weight and grow faster and to start crawling, walking, and grabbing earlier." These are behaviors that seem easier to measure, though once again it is difficult to point to causation.
While babies can be born without this sense, they often fail to thrive and many of them perish. The problem in these cases is an ineffective nerve communication between their skin and brain. Why these infants have difficulty surviving is another question altogether. A National Geographic article from 2002 written by Joel Swerdlow explains that "Laboratory experiments decades ago, now considered unethical and inhumane, kept baby monkeys from being touched by their mothers. It made no difference that the babies could see, hear, and smell their mothers; without touching, the babies became apathetic and failed to progress." There are similar effects in infant humans. Children who live in orphanages with too high of a child to attendant ratio also generally experience psychological setbacks, as well as higher levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. High percentages of these children do not survive past infancy, though, of course, there are other factors involved, such as malnutrition and illness. Nevertheless, scientists can confidently conclude that there is a link between experiencing touch during infancy and one's ability to thrive.
Other animal studies have pointed to a host of other elements related to touch during infancy. Animals that are touched on a regular basis grow faster, demonstrate more physical activity, tolerate stress better, and have more effective immune systems. One website claims that "Human neonates, preemies, and infants who have been touched and held regularly do much better than those who have not. Children who are picked up, cuddled, cradled, rocked, petted, and stroked have been shown to gain weight and grow faster and to start crawling, walking, and grabbing earlier." These are behaviors that seem easier to measure, though once again it is difficult to point to causation.
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