The Science Behind The Profound Power Of Holding Hands

There’s something special about holding hands with another human being. All of us are innately conscious of how this simple act can stir an instant intimacy, heighten our awareness and express a deep connection. This alchemy of two hands touching has so deeply captured our collective imagination, it’s been the subject of our highest artistic achievements, from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, to the poetry of Romeo and Juliet, to the lyrics of the Beatles. But what is it about holding hands, exactly, that makes it so powerful? In partnership with Dignity Health, we explored what science can tell us about this ubiquitous, mysterious gesture, and how it can affect our brains and physical well-being, as well as our relationships. Holding hands, we learn, has the power to impact the world.   Holding Patterns Human beings are hardwired to seek out each other’s touch before we are even born. If you’ve ever touched the palm of a newborn baby, then you’ve likely witnessed (and been treated to) one of the earliest instinctual responses to manifest in humans: the “grasping reflex.” Known to science as the palmar grasp reflex, the instinct makes a baby grab your finger and squeeze it tight. Humans share this trait with our primate ancestors; it can still be observed in species of monkeys, notably in the way newborns cling to their mothers, unsupported, so the mother can transport the two, hands-free.  Human fetuses have been observ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news