MISA International Conference 2021
9 - 10 Oct 2021| Online Live Conference
1430 - 1730 UK Time
Day 1, 9 Oct Open to MISP Instructors/Trainers and Public
Day 2, 10 Oct Open to MISP Instructors & Trainers only
Be part of an inspiring keynote experience with Prof Francis McGlone, Co-director of the Somatosensory & Affective Neuroscience Lab at the School of Natural Sciences & Psychology
9 Oct 2021
Keynote Presentation:
THE TOUCH THAT MATTERS MOST
How our skin is a social organ where gentle nurturing touch shapes the destiny of the social brain
In this talk I will pose the question 'why do we have a system of slowly conducting gentle touch responsive nerves in the skin?' and provide some evidence-based, and some speculative, reasons why such a system has evolved in social species. A sense of touch is fundamental for an organism to detect its environment, but it also serves a second social/affiliative function that has, over evolutionary time, reached its zenith in human primates. Here we propose, and provide evidence for, a recently identified system of gentle touch sensitive nerves in the skin that provide the neurobiological substrate for a touch system that encodes the emotional qualities of skin touch. These nerves – called c-tactile afferents (CT) - are hypothesised to play a fundamental and critical role in socialising the developing brain, and have led to our view of the skin as a social organ where gentle nurturing touch shapes the destiny of the social brain.
About Professor Francis McGlone
Francis McGlone is Professor in Neuroscience at Liverpool John Moores University, & Visiting Professor, Liverpool University, UK. He is Co-Director of the Somatosensory & Affective Neuroscience Lab at the School of Natural Sciences & Psychology. He has a long term interest in the function of the different classes of afferent c-fibres innervating human skin - those that code for pain, itch (for which an IgNobel prize was awarded) and ‘pleasure’ - at both peripheral and central levels. Techniques used in this research span single unit recordings with microneurography, psychophysical measurements, functional neuroimaging, behavioural measures, and psychopharmacological approaches to investigate the role of the brain transmitter serotonin in affiliative and social touch. He is also co-director of the International Association for the Study of Affective Touch (IASAT) which held its first meeting in Queens Sq (London) in March 2015.
10 Oct 2021
MISP Research In Russia
Eva Lovygina, Russia
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A research titled "Application of MISP for improving the quality of life of orphans" has been carried out in Russia. The research was conducted in 3 Russian cities at the same time. A unique aspect of the study was that children themselves were experts to evaluate the MISP efficiency. The children showed interest in implementing and continuing of this new communication experience which has brought us many insights and new questions.
MISP Research in Scotland
Dougie Mirfin & Fiona McCallum, Scotland
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Latest research gathered from a focused piece of work carried out in an East Ayrshire school – whole class as well as three identified children with a range of needs.
Presentations by MISP Co-Founders, MISA International President, MISP Trainers and more!
Other highlights - Stroke Review, Q&A with speakers and co-founders, Rainbow Massage, updates from MISA International!