ConTaktLab

Call for Contributions for a NeuroImage Special Issue led by @MerleFairhurst (@TactileInternet/@tudresden_de) and @nico_hinrichs (@MPI_CBS) Focus: hyperscanning, inter-brain coupling, multimodal neuroimaging, VR/AR/haptics and computational models. Issue starts 01.26

New preprint! We systematically examine touch aversion: its measurement, behavioural correlates, and links to individual differences. Findings point to a multidimensional construct and the need for better alignment across measures. Link: researchsquare.com/article/rs-853…

This video shows how learning via backpropagation (used in most ML systems) differs from how the brain may learn in parallel through predictive coding. youtube.com/watch?v=l-OLgb… Related paper: arxiv.org/abs/2202.09467

Read the blog post on our website: tu-dresden.de/ing/elektrotec…

New research on autism and touch. Makita et al. (2025) show that adults with ASD perceive softness normally, but experience less increase in pleasantness when touching soft, skin-like materials. Suggests differences in affective evaluation of touch, not sensory detection.

Our collaborators at Dutch Touch Society have been nominated for the Klokhuis Wetenschapsprijs! Their project explores how social touch can reduce stress. Help them win and bring touch research to national TV! Vote: hetklokhuis.nl/dossier/153/kl… Select Hand in hand tegen de spanning

New Editorial by @IreneValori and @MerleFairhurst introducing the special issue: “The Social Bridge: An Interdisciplinary View on Trust in Technology.” A timely reflection on how trust is built and shaped in digital environments. Read here: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

The new book Humans, Robots and Virtual Worlds in the Tactile Internet is now available! With @TactileInternet, we’re excited to have contributed chapters to this volume on the future of immersive tech and human-machine interaction. Get it: #full-description" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">shop.elsevier.com/books/humans-r…

Today we celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science The 2026 theme highlights the power of connecting AI, social science, STEM and finance to build inclusive futures. At our team —led by a woman committed to empowering women in science— inclusion is foundational

Visit sciencedirect.com/special-issue/… to learn more.

Call for Contributions for a NeuroImage Special Issue led by @MerleFairhurst (@TactileInternet/@tudresden_de) and @nico_hinrichs (@MPI_CBS) Focus: hyperscanning, inter-brain coupling, multimodal neuroimaging, VR/AR/haptics and computational models. Issue starts 01.26

Interesting paper by Banerjee et al. (2025) on a multi-user haptic glove & sleeve system for VR. Especially compelling is the focus on shared tactile feedback across physically distant users. A great step toward social touch in VR. arxiv.org/pdf/2502.13421

Digital touch has evolved rapidly, raising unique ethical challenges. Passive digital touch in particular demands careful attention to ethics, as increasingly realistic haptics can shape sensations, beliefs, and well-being. Read our blog: tu-dresden.de/ing/elektrotec…

Our Spotlight on Tactile Sensitivity brought together experts to explore individual differences in touch, from social touch research to tactile sensor development. Great visit and exchange from the teams of Ilona Croy and @UtaSailer

We're proud to be part of CeTI @TactileInternet Phase 2 We’re advancing research on social affective touch in VR, studying neural correlates, stress buffering, trust, and co-presence using haptics, thermal feedback, and immersive social scenarios. So excited for what's to come

Some people love hugs. Others step back, and that’s not a problem. Our new article explores touch aversion as an adaptive response shaped by many factors: tu-dresden.de/ing/elektrotec… Are you a touch seeker or prefer to keep your distance? Why might that be?

#InsideConTaktLab is back! Our latest video demos the Gorilla canvas painting tool, which turns embodied gestures into data. A playful look at how tools can help us with our research and experiments.

Kicking off the year with a new publication! Our recently published article in the Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology explores social interaction, trust, and human connection. Read here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ca…

A look back at an inspiring year. Events we organized and attended, papers published, student projects, and many great moments in between. We made a video to show how much we achieved in 2025. Thanks to everyone who was part of the journey. Happy holidays!

New preprint coauthored by @MerleFairhurst and @IreneValori We compare touch vs. verbal comforting and find that touch boosts emotional empathy but can also increase personal distress. Read it here: osf.io/preprints/psya…

The CyberFinger by SciCortex is here! A hands-free wearable VR controller built for optical hand tracking. The developer beta lauch is live for the #Resonite community. Congrats to @Mila_Quebec from us at @TactileInternet! Trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=AIADYy…