For humans, physical contact represents a vital need: the "language" of touch is essential for good physical, immune and cerebral development. How do massages, caresses and other benevolent contacts influence health in everyday life? International teams of researchers have addressed this question, studying how nerve circuits convert a gesture into a pleasant sensation, and exploring the social function of touch. How can the same contact lead to well-being, repulsion or indifference, depending on the person who is exercising it?