“The Hold Truth”

“There’s power in the touch of another person’s hand. We acknowledge it in little ways, all the time. There’s a reason human beings shake hands, hold hands, slap hands, bump hands”

Jim Butcher

The simple act of hand-holding has many physical and psychological benefits, transcending mere comfort to become a fundamental aspect of human connection and health. Touch is the first of our senses to develop when we are born, serving as our most essential means of interacting with the world around us. This primary sense of touch is not just a source of reassurance and affection; it is vital to our development and well-being throughout our lives. From the moment we enter the world, our need for physical contact is evident, beginning with the instinctual grasp of an infant’s hand. As we grow, the importance of touch extends into adulthood, where it continues to play a critical role in our social interactions, emotional health and even our physical condition. Touch has been shown to influence a wide array of physiological responses, from lowering blood pressure and reducing stress to strengthening the immune system and enhancing pain management. Thus, the significance of hand-holding and physical touch is deeply embedded in our biology and psychology, highlighting its indispensable role in fostering human connection and promoting holistic health.

As human beings, we are inherently looking to seek out each other’s touch before we are even born. One of the earliest instinctual responses to manifest in humans is known as the “grasping reflex”, also known as the “palmar grasp reflex”. This is the instinct that makes a baby grab your finger and squeeze it tight. This reflex is simple, yet sophisticated, as it ultimately allows the transfer of objects from hand to hand. By placing an object or the examiner’s finger in the palm of the infant’s hand, this leads to an involuntary flexion response. So, touch becomes intrinsic in our nature at a very young age, which is a trait we also share with our primate ancestors. It can still be observed in species of monkeys, notably in the way newborns cling to their mothers. Even in adulthood, physical contact is a central element of social interaction and social relationships. It has been suggested that social touch is one mechanism for beneficial health effects of social relationships, as it can have a calming effect and alter the way stress is handled, thereby promoting mental and physical health. In fact, multiple studies show that physical touch can affect several important areas of society, including: pain management, lower blood pressure, less violence, increased trust, stronger immune system, greater learning engagement and overall well-being. 

Holding someone’s hand feels good because it is scientifically proven to be good! It starts the oxytocin production, which can help you feel closer and more connected to the person whose hand you’re holding; as well as reduce cortisol response to stress. The pressure of touch on the highly sensitive skin of the hand stimulates the “pressure-sensitive pacinian corpuscles”. These are large, widespread mechanoreceptors sensitive to mechanical pressure and vibrations existing in the skin all over the body and within joints, periosteum, connective tissue, and internal organs which send signals to the vagus nerve, which conducts signals to the hypothalamus, turn lowering the heart rate and blood pressure and contributes to the neurological management of stress. This calms parts of the brain responsible for vigilance and emotional response. Touch also acts as a safety signal in dangerous situations, where the amygdala gets activated to help us react quickly in various dangerous situations (e.g. helping us decide to fight or run away). Touch sensations, whether from people or objects, are processed in the “insular cortex”, a part of the brain that can calm down the amygdala, reducing stress. So, touch might make us feel calm and safe because it signals to our brain that we are not in danger. In fact, hand-holding has been used in clinical situations that are highly stress-inducing. For example, researchers have found that patients who held a researcher’s hand during cataract surgery reported feeling significantly less anxious during the surgery and had lower rates of epinephrine (a hormone related to anxiety and stress). Researchers have even reported that hand holding can be effective in reducing physical pain, showing how strong the mind and body can be together.

In conclusion, the simple act of holding hands is far more than a comforting gesture; it is a profound means of connection with significant physical and psychological benefits. From our earliest moments, touch plays a critical role in our development and social interactions, influencing everything from stress management to overall well-being. This deeply ingrained behavior, rooted in our biology and shared with our primate relatives, underscores the importance of physical contact in fostering emotional bonds and promoting health. Whether it’s reducing anxiety during medical procedures or enhancing trust and learning engagement, the science of touch reveals its essential role in our lives. Therefore, the next time you hold someone’s hand, remember that this small act carries a powerful and positive impact on both mental and physical health.