{
  "abstract": "Gentle and deep pressure are distinct types of touch that often elicit pleasant sensations and modulate pain. Although touch pleasantness has traditionally been attributed to unmyelinated C-tactile afferents, growing evidence suggests an important contribution of myelinated A-fibers. However, the relative role of A- and C-fibers in touch-evoked pleasantness and pain modulation remains unclear. To test the role of A- and C-fibers in touch pleasantness, healthy adults underwent selective peripheral nerve block of the superficial radial nerve to preferentially impair either A- or C-fiber function. Touch pleasantness of brushing (Study 1; N = 24) or deep pressure (Study 2; N = 24) and touch-induced modulation of heat pain were assessed before and after the nerve block. Both nerve blocks significantly reduced the perceived pleasantness of both gentle brushing and deep pressure, supporting a substantial contribution of myelinated A-fibers and well as unmyelinated C-fibers (presumably C-tactile fibers) to affective touch. In addition, block of A-fibers did not diminish touch-induced modulation of experimental heat pain, suggesting a particular pain-inhibiting role for C-tactile fibers. These findings supply causal evidence in healthy adults that myelinated A-fibers are highly involved in touch pleasantness-alongside C-tactile fibers-but are not involved in touch-induced pain relief.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of California, San Diego"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "B. Albinni"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. N. Crankshaw"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Jones"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Alasha"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Zimmerman"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. Schuster"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Said"
    },
    {
      "name": "I. Strigo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "L. K. Case"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f8z60t6e1znxe.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.07.757355",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.07.757355v1.full",
  "id": "f8z60t6e1znxe",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.07.757355v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2805|Tactile and Sensory Interactions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222223390",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.07.757355v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f8z60t6e1znxe.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:27:54Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.07.757355",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.07.757355v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Selective Nerve Block of A- or C-Afferents Confirms Dual Role in Touch Pleasantness but Not Touch-Pain Modulation",
  "title_text": "Selective Nerve Block of A- or C-Afferents Confirms Dual Role in Touch Pleasantness but Not Touch-Pain Modulation",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:27:54Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f8z60t6e1znxe",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}