Chantal Triscoli

Papers

Total Citations

108

H-Index

About

Chantal Triscoli is a leading researcher in affective touch and human tactile perception, with a particular focus on the neurophysiological and emotional dimensions of gentle stroking. Her most-cited work, “CT-optimized skin stroking delivered by hand or robot is comparable” (2013, 108 citations), represents a landmark contribution to the field. In this study, Triscoli and her colleagues demonstrated that pleasant tactile stimulation produced by a human hand is qualitatively equivalent to that delivered by a robotic source, provided the stroking parameters are optimized to activate C-tactile (CT) afferents. This finding has profound implications for understanding social touch, human-robot interaction, and the development of therapeutic haptic technologies. By systematically comparing manual and mechanical touch, Triscoli helped establish that the hedonic quality of gentle stroking depends more on physical parameters—such as velocity and force—than on the social identity of the toucher. Her work bridges experimental psychology, neuroscience, and engineering, offering a rigorous empirical foundation for research on the emotional and physiological benefits of touch. Triscoli’s contributions continue to influence studies on tactile communication, affective computing, and the design of robotic systems capable of delivering socially meaningful touch.