We all know a little cuddle and hand holding can go a long way if you're upset about something.
However, a new study has revealed just how much holding hands with your significant other can impact you.
Scientists from the University of Colorado have found that when lovers touch, their breathing and heartbeats sync up, and feelings of pain fade away.
The research, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports, is part of a bigger study into 'interpersonal synchronisation', where people begin to physiologically mirror the people they spend time with.
Paul Goldstein, the main researcher of the study, said that he came up with the idea after his wife gave birth to their daughter.
“My wife was in pain, and all I could think was, ‘What can I do to help her?’” he said.
“I reached for her hand and it seemed to help.”
He continued, “I wanted to test it out in the lab: 'Can one really decrease pain with touch, and if so, how?'”
During the research, 22 long-term straight couples were tested.
The men were given the role of 'observer' while the women were assigned as the 'pain targets' (fun).
Before any experiments took place, the couples had their heart and breathing rates tested three times; while sitting together without touching, sitting together holding hands, and then again while sitting in different rooms.
After that, the women all received a mild heat pain on their forearms for two minutes. The researchers discovered that the couples synced physiologically while just sitting together.
When the woman experienced pain, and her partner couldn't touch her, the synchronisation "severed".
However, as soon as the men were able to touch their SOs, their heart rates synced back up and the pain subsided.
Paul concluded: “It appears that pain totally interrupts this interpersonal synchronisation between couples. Touch brings it back.”
