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Quanta Magazine·4 min read·medium

How Does Touch Lead To Pain Or Pleasure?

How Does Touch Lead To Pain Or Pleasure?
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Neuroscientist Ishmail Abdus-Saboor discusses the biological and emotional complexities of touch, pain, and pleasure in a podcast interview. The conversation explores how touch functions as a social signal and the ethical considerations of studying sensory perception in animals.

Why it matters

Understanding the mechanisms of pain and touch is crucial for advancements in neuroscience, pain management, and social psychology.

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Home How Does Touch Lead To Pain Or Pleasure? Comment Save Article Read Later Share Facebook Copied! Copy link Email Pocket Reddit Ycombinator Comment Comments Save Article Read Later Read Later The Joy of Why How Does Touch Lead To Pain Or Pleasure? By Janna Levin and Steven Strogatz August 6, 2026

Save Article Read Later Chanelle Nibbelink for Quanta Magazine

biology neurons neuroscience perception The Joy of Why All topics Pain and pleasure seem like simple facts of life, however they are anything but that. Neuroscientists still cannot say why physical pain differs from psychological pain, for instance, or why a loved one’s touch soothes while a stranger’s touch repels.

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