http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2009/12/08_survival_of_kindest.shtml
From the page: Researchers were able to see from activity in the threat response region of the brain that many of the female participants grew anxious as they waited to be touched. However, as soon as they felt a sympathetic touch, the vagus nerve was activated and oxytocin was released, calming them immediately.
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