Warmth and Hugging Strengthen the Feeling of Being You

Warm hugs do more than feel nice—they quietly tune the nervous system, deepen body awareness, and strengthen the sense of “this is me.”

When a warm hug melts the world away and, for a moment, you remember exactly who you are and who you belong to.

Photo by Anastasia Vityukova on Unsplash

Why warmth changes how you feel about yourself

A new review from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Pavia highlights “thermoception,” the brain’s reading of skin temperature, as a direct skin‑to‑brain channel for shaping bodily self‑awareness. When the skin feels warmth—from a hug, a blanket, or a heated room—the brain updates its internal map of the body, reinforcing the feeling that the body belongs to us and grounding our sense of self. These temperature signals don’t just keep us alive and comfortable; they influence emotion, identity, and how present we feel in our own skin.

When temperature signals go wrong

The authors show that disturbed thermal perception often appears alongside disturbed body ownership. People recovering from stroke, or living with anorexia, depression, anxiety, or trauma‑related disorders, may feel detached from parts of their body or from themselves more generally, and clinical evidence links this to altered processing of temperature signals. This suggests that problems with how the brain interprets warmth and cold can quietly erode the feeling of being “at home” in one’s body.

From warm hugs to new therapies

Because temperature feeds directly into brain regions involved in interoception—especially the insular cortex—warm, gentle touch can boost feelings of safety, reduce stress responses, and support a more stable sense of self. The review argues that harnessing thermosensory signals could inspire sensory‑based mental health treatments, help design prosthetics that feel more naturally “owned,” improve neurorehabilitation, and even clarify how climate and extreme temperatures affect mood and cognition.