# Affective Sensory Pathways of Light Stroking and Deep Pressure Touch

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2022 · $243,750

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The candidate proposes a career development Pathway to Independence Award to further advance her
psychophysical and brain imaging research skills in the area of sensory and affective neuroscience. The candidate's
ultimate career goal is to become an independent, extramurally-funded scientist with expertise in affective
somatosensation and its role in complementary health modalities. The neuroscience of affective somatosensation is very
young and holds large gaps. While an affective-sensory afferent type for light stroking touch is known (the C low
threshold mechanoreceptor; C-LTMR), we do not yet understand why deep pressure touch is pleasant, and we understand
very little about the role of opioids in affective touch perception. Affective somatosensation is a critical component of
numerous complementary and integrative therapies including massage therapy. The purpose of this proposal is to identify
the sensory affective pathways of light stroking and deep pressure touch and determine how and why these pathways
differ in individuals with chronic pain. Each aim of the proposal is supported by coursework, research training
experiences, scientific meetings and seminars, and a detailed research plan.
 The K99 period of the proposal aims to determine whether the pleasantness of deep pressure touch is dependent
on pressure-sensitive C-LTMR afferents in muscle tissue and to determine what role opioids play in the pleasantness of
light stroking and deep pressure touch in healthy individuals. The R00 period will determine why individuals with chronic
pain show reduced affective sensory processing and altered opioid interactions. The overall goal of this K99/R00 research
proposal is to provide the candidate with expertise in sensory affective neuroscience through the performance of
psychophysical testing and brain imaging under the guidance of an experienced team of scientists. The candidate is
currently a postdoctoral IRTA fellow in the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health where she is
mentored by Dr. M. Catherine Bushnell, a leading expert in pain and affective somatosensation, with access to excellent
facilities for conducting nerve blocks, sensory testing, and brain imaging. The findings from the K99/R00 investigations
will advance the neuroscience of affective somatosensation by identifying the affective pathways of light stroking and
deep pressure touch, enabling research on the functions of these pathways in health and disease as well as in various
complementary health modalities including massage.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10302291
- **Project number:** 5R00AT009466-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Laura K Case
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $243,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-12-23 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10302291

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10302291, Affective Sensory Pathways of Light Stroking and Deep Pressure Touch (5R00AT009466-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10302291. Licensed CC0.

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