BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Stroking reveals pleasure nerve

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Stroking reveals pleasure nerve: "A new touch-sensitive nerve fibre responsible for the sense of pleasure experienced during stroking has been described at a UK conference today.

The nerves tap into a human's reward pathways, and could help explain why we enjoy grooming and a good hug, a neuroscientist has explained.

His team used a stroking machine to reveal the optimal speed and pressure for the most enjoyable caress."