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Holding a mug, feeling the ground as you walk, petting your furry friend, or hugging your child, all of these touch sensations start with deformation of the skin that the nervous system must process to serve physiological, emotional and social goals.

Can a garment made from smart textiles relieve long-term pain? This is what researchers in neuroscience, materials science, pain research, textile science and biomechanics are seeking to find out in a new interdisciplinary research project.

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.