If a high five or an equivalent can in fact enhance performance, on the field or in the office, that may be because it reduces stress. A warm touch seems to set off the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps create a sensation of trust, and to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
In the brain, prefrontal areas, which help regulate emotion, can relax, freeing them for another of their primary purposes: problem solving. In effect, the body interprets a supportive touch as “I’ll share the load.”
“We think that humans build relationships precisely for this reason, to distribute problem solving across brains,” said James A. Coan, a a psychologist at the University of Virginia. “We are wired to literally share the processing load, and this is the signal we’re getting when we receive support through touch.”
via www.nytimes.com
I believe this to be true. And i remember reading about a test made at a library some years ago. That people who were touched physically on their hands by the librarians when they handed out the books, became regular users of the library on a significantly larger scale than the ones who were not touched.
I apologize for my limited english language. :-)
Posted by: Bente M | February 25, 2010 at 09:31 AM