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Psychol Sci December 2006 PMID 17201784

Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat.

James A Coan, Hillary S Schaefer, Richard J Davidson

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Mentions

150
Peak: 3 in Jun 2022
across 5 sources since Apr 2018

Extended reach

147,522
potential audience

Total likes

183

Video views

7,097

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Apr 2018 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The group's discussions exhibit a shared interest in the significance of social relationships for emotional well-being, exemplified by phrases like 'connection matters for health' and references to how 'quality of connections' influences neural responses. The tone is generally supportive and acknowledging the relevance of the research, but there is limited critical analysis or exploration of future implications, reflecting moderate levels of engagement and impact.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the idea that social connections, like touch, can influence neural responses to stress, indicating general agreement with the article's findings.

InterestModerate interest

The discussions reflect moderate curiosity, with many posts sharing the study and highlighting its relevance, but few delving into detailed analysis or implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Users show some engagement by referencing the study and related neuroscience concepts, but their comments are mostly summaries or sharing rather than deep critique.

ImpactNeutral impact

While the topic resonates with the importance of social bonds for health, the overall tone suggests modest perceived impact on broader fields or practices.

Abstract in brief

  • Social contact, like holding hands, boosts emotional well-being, especially during stressful situations.
  • In an fMRI study, married women showed reduced brain activation related to threat responses when holding their husband’s hand compared to a stranger's hand or no hand at all.
  • The effectiveness of spousal hand-holding in reducing threat responses was linked to the quality of the marriage, with better marital quality leading to decreased neural activation in specific brain areas during spousal hand-holding.
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
O Derik
@Derikcurcio · X

@FariasPsicologo Fiquei curioso: https://t.co/h6JNRYNVCU

Mar 7, 2023 · 16 likes · 29 followers View post →
Dr. Dominic Ng
@DrDominicNg · X

If you like neuroscience make sure to follow me @DrDominicNg or retweet so someone else can see it on your feed. https://t.co/cJmhlchUj9

Aug 19, 2025 · 12 likes · 1 share · 11,728 followers View post →
三田村 研究室|『カップルセラピーの教科書』
@Mitamura_Lab · X

@yana7654321 急に硬いリプライをつけますが，今日紹介したfMRIの研究です。 Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat https://t.co/auNiXBeqg9 ちょっと空気読めてないレベルで硬いですが...

Jun 28, 2022 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 6,245 followers View post →
PsikoBilim
@Psikobilim_ · X

Çalışmanın adresi: https://t.co/JTIdIQXB4j

Jul 8, 2024 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 79,082 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat https://t.co/oKoQWR4hBa

Dec 8, 2023 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 6,736 followers View post →
Montse Esquerda
@montse_esquerda · X

@drjjulia I @jimcoan, amb una línea de recerca sobre “donar la ma” Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat https://t.co/b4KQZs1ciP O tambe: https://t.co/QfrfBymKOA

Feb 6, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 5,252 followers View post →

All mentions

Lucas Barbosa, MD
@luksbarao · X

RT @DrDominicNg: If you like neuroscience make sure to follow me @DrDominicNg or retweet so someone else can see it on your feed. https://…

Aug 19, 2025 · 1 share · 35 followers View post →
Dr. Dominic Ng
@DrDominicNg · X

If you like neuroscience make sure to follow me @DrDominicNg or retweet so someone else can see it on your feed. https://t.co/cJmhlchUj9

Aug 19, 2025 · 12 likes · 1 share · 11,728 followers View post →
EurekaMag
@EurekaMag · X

Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat https://t.co/6EXJTKVJNl Psychological Science 17(12): 1032-1039 2006 ISSN/ISBN: 0956-7976 PMID: 17201784 https://t.co/qUg6NBQtwZ

Jul 31, 2025 · 6,451 followers View post →
山本 健太
@yamameishi1123 · X

Coan, J. A., Schaefer, H. S., & Davidson, R. J. (2006). Lending a hand: Social regulation of the neural response to threat. Psychological science, 17(12), 1032-1039.

Aug 7, 2024 · 148 followers View post →
borsa okuyucu
@NeOluyoLayn · X

RT @Psikobilim_: Çalışmanın adresi: https://t.co/JTIdIQXB4j

Jul 8, 2024 · 2 shares View post →
PsikoBilim
@Psikobilim_ · X

Çalışmanın adresi: https://t.co/JTIdIQXB4j

Jul 8, 2024 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 79,082 followers View post →
@LoreofRunning
@LoreofRunning1 · X

RT @jaynebullen: Connection matters for health. Also, the Quality of the connections we have matter. A few have asked me about this study…

Apr 25, 2024 · 1 share · 7,856 followers View post →
Jayne Bullen
@jaynebullen · X

Connection matters for health. Also, the Quality of the connections we have matter. A few have asked me about this study I spoke about last week, so am sharing here for those keen to read about this. We can use science to prove what the heart knows. https://t.co/Ca7ClU3XPr https://t.co/gcqdjThYU7

Apr 25, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 2,278 followers View post →
Nicola McCarry
@NicMcCarry · X

@hubermanlab @DrSeanMackey Coan 2006 Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat « touches » on this

Jan 19, 2024 · 1 like · 338 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

RT @leoschilbach: Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat https://t.co/oKoQWR4hBa

Dec 8, 2023 · 2 shares · 6,736 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat https://t.co/oKoQWR4hBa

Dec 8, 2023 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 6,736 followers View post →
A Aver
@AAver7 · X

Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat. https://t.co/angz2QJgEO

Apr 21, 2023 · 1 like · 130 followers View post →
O Derik
@Derikcurcio · X

@FariasPsicologo Fiquei curioso: https://t.co/h6JNRYNVCU

Mar 7, 2023 · 16 likes · 29 followers View post →
Greenmind2013
@greenmind2013 · X

RT @Mitamura_Lab: @yana7654321 急に硬いリプライをつけますが，今日紹介したfMRIの研究です。 Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat https://…

Jun 29, 2022 · 2 shares · 72 followers View post →
柳澤博紀（おでこひろのり）
@yana7654321 · X

RT @Mitamura_Lab: @yana7654321 急に硬いリプライをつけますが，今日紹介したfMRIの研究です。 Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat https://…

Jun 28, 2022 · 2 shares · 5,836 followers View post →
三田村 研究室|『カップルセラピーの教科書』
@Mitamura_Lab · X

@yana7654321 急に硬いリプライをつけますが，今日紹介したfMRIの研究です。 Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat https://t.co/auNiXBeqg9 ちょっと空気読めてないレベルで硬いですが...

Jun 28, 2022 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 6,245 followers View post →
Gabriela Picco
@GabpiccoPicco · X

RT @montse_esquerda: @drjjulia I @jimcoan, amb una línea de recerca sobre “donar la ma” Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural re…

Feb 6, 2021 · 1 share · 1,131 followers View post →
Montse Esquerda
@montse_esquerda · X

@drjjulia I @jimcoan, amb una línea de recerca sobre “donar la ma” Lending a hand: social regulation of the neural response to threat https://t.co/b4KQZs1ciP O tambe: https://t.co/QfrfBymKOA

Feb 6, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 5,252 followers View post →
Laurence Astill Wright
@laurence_aw · X

https://t.co/tymGVj0H8n

Oct 5, 2020 · 305 followers View post →