- A University of Bristol study of over 15,000 UK adults found that hugs offering comfort, support, and understanding are the most memorable.
- Nearly 70 per cent of participants remembered hugs primarily for their ability to reduce stress and improve mood.
- Individuals with higher levels of empathy, body awareness, and cognitive skills were significantly more likely to recall specific hugs.
- Men were more likely than women to report physically arousing hugs as their most memorable touch experiences.
- Published in the journal PLOS One, the observational research links emotional touch to memory formation across different relationship types.
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