Why do people cuddle?
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Hi, friends. You might notice something a little different about this episode. That's because it's part of the moment of calm. You'll hear different theme music that is quieter and calmer. That makes these episodes great for winding down before bedtime or when you just need a few minutes to relax. Thanks for listening. From the brains behind Brains On, this is the moment of um. Answering those questions that make you go, um.

Moment of Um comes to you from APM Studios. I'm Teddy. Teddy Bear.

I know, my name isn't very original, especially for an actual teddy bear. My owner Kimberly just got me. I'm a brand new stuffed bear, fresh off the toy store shelves. I've got brown fur, green eyes, and I'm hoping Kimberly will come up with a new name for me, like Sven, or Diego, or maybe Bertrand P. Behrman.

Oh, oh, maybe I should come up with a fun name for her too, like Kim Barely. Ho, ho.

I'm also a tiny bit worried about this whole cuddling thing. All the other stuffed animals on the bed are talking about it. Apparently, it's going to involve her squeezing me and rubbing her head against mine and holding me all night long. I gotta say, I'm kind of nervous about it. But I also don't want her to ignore me. I want to know what this whole cuddling thing is about.

Like, why do humans cuddle? What's the big to-do? I wonder if anyone has the answer to that question. Cuddling is a way of expressing love or attention by touching. My name is India Morrison, and I'm a professor of neuroscience, which is the study of how the brain works.

Why does cuddling make you feel good? Well, part of why you feel good is because when you're being cuddled or held, you feel safe and taken care of.

Just think about when you were a baby. Nobody can remember being a baby, but if you have a baby in your life or you've seen babies around you, you know they really can't do much at all. They can't walk or talk or do anything. But what they do understand is that when they're being held, they're safe and warm and loved.

And we don't outgrow this. We might learn how to walk and talk and do a lot of things, ride a bike, drive a car. But we never outgrow these feelings of needing to feel loved and cared for through cuddling. I think another important thing about cuddling is it feels good to be cuddled, but it also feels good to give other people cuddles.

If you're a little bit sad and somebody gives you a hug, that makes you feel better. But if you see somebody who's, you know, having a bad day, is a bit upset, crying, you can just go and put your arms around them and make them feel better. That's also a good thing about cuddling. When you think about how humans lived throughout the history of our species, we always lived in groups where it's really important to take care of each other

So if you can make somebody feel better by touching them, then that helps that person. And maybe on another day when you're feeling sad or upset, someone else in your group will cuddle you and make you feel better. But not everybody likes cuddling. Some people really like it, and other people, it makes them feel a little bit uncomfortable. They might share their love and affection in a different way other than through touching people.

But if cuddling isn't your thing, there are lots of other ways you can express your love. Okay, forget the fear. Cuddling sounds awesome. Maybe I'll start cuddling Kimmy Bear too. Good nickname, me.

Maybe we can cuddle each other and call each other funny names. Although, I guess there's the chance I won't like being cuddled. In which case, maybe we can sit on opposite sides of the couch and watch movies together. Or paw through the pantry for honey together. Honey. If you liked this episode, take a second to subscribe to Moment of Um wherever you listen to podcasts.

And if you enjoyed learning about cuddling, check out the Brains On podcast where we have a whole episode all about getting feelings for other people called Why Do We Have Crushes? And if you want to see our shows come to life, head to YouTube where we've got awesome animated Brains On episodes. Search Brains On Universe on YouTube and subscribe.

If you have a question, we'd love to help you answer it. Drop us a line by going to brainson.org slash contact. See you next time and the next day and every weekday. Until then, um, Kimberino or Kimberry. No, maybe Berry Carrie Kimbo. I bet you like that one.

Hey friends, Molly, Sandin, and Mark here with some very big news. Drumroll please. Intro

We're hitting the road in search of adventure, fresh air, and you. That's right. We're going to be live at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday, April 27th. Our science-themed live stage show takes the audience on an adventure through the brain, complete with magic tricks, dance moves, out-of-body experiences, mystery sounds, and a game show. Molly, you almost left out the most important part.

Yeah, Molly, don't forget the big party. Oh, right. After the shows, we're throwing a brain-tastic bash. Join us afterward for a VIP party where we'll play games, guess mystery sounds, pose for photos, and give as many high fives as humanly possible. Snag a spot by purchasing a VIP pass when you buy your show ticket. Oh, that reminds me. I've got to start training. These hands aren't going to high five by themselves. Five and five. Good idea.

And remember, spots are limited, so grab your tickets today at brainson.org slash events.