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How the nervous system distinguishes social touch

Two types of neurons in the skin may be particularly important for how the brain interprets social contact between people. Knowledge of how the nervous system processes social touch is important in order to develop ways to restore sensation.

Our sense of touch consists of 16 unique types of nerve cells

No less than 16 different types of nerve cells have been identified by scientists in a new study on the human sense of touch. Comparisons between humans, mice and macaques show both similarities and significant differences.

Three LiU researchers share SEK 53 million from the ERC

Three researchers at LiU have received European Research Council Starting grants awarded to promising researchers. Their research areas are new cancer treatment, materials development and how people are affected by grief.

"We have realized the importance of touch"

Research on the social aspect of touch has received a great deal of attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rebecca Böhme, researcher at CSAN, focuses on this sense which is considered to be the first we use, already as a fetus inside the womb.

SEK 64 million to research in medicine and health

Fourteen researchers at LiU have received grants totalling more than SEK 64 million. This is the result when the Swedish Research Council has awarded nearly SEK 1.1 billion in research grants for the medical and health sciences.

Research about skin sensation gave insights into pain

Håkan Olausson’s breakthrough research has partially upset the textbook description of the nervous system. His research group recently discovered a previously unknown component of the human pain-signalling system.

Håkan Olausson appointed Wallenberg Clinical Scholar

Håkan Olausson has been appointed as a Wallenberg Clinical Scholar by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. He receives SEK 15 million for his research into the clinical significance of a newly discovered ultrarapid pain-signalling system.

LiU researchers receive Wallenberg grants

Two LiU researchers each receive around SEK 34 million for five years from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. Håkan Olausson is working on ultrafast pain signalling, while Feng Gao is developing new materials for solar cells.

Pain signalling in humans more rapid than previously known

Pain signals can travel as fast as touch signals, according to a new study. The discovery of a rapid pain-signalling system challenges our current understanding of pain.

How our brains distinguish between self-touch and touch by others

Our brains seem to reduce sensory perception from an area of our skin when we touch it ourselves, according to a new study. The finding increases our understanding of how the brain distinguishes between being touched by another person and self-touch.

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