Dorian Llywelyn, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
When death is looming, the warmth of a held hand can communicate deeply where words fail.
Not being able to hold and hug loved ones has been one of the more difficult parts of the pandemic.
Alex Chan Tsz Yuk/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Lack of human touch can lead to greater stress, anxiety and loneliness – and that is what made the social distancing during the pandemic so hard for many.
Our sense of touch is important for creating and maintaining social bonds.
DimaBerlin/ Shutterstock
All of the senses have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, not because the senses have changed, but because the world has, writes a sensory historian.