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Cosmetic After-Feel Modulates Brain Activity in Sensory and Reward Networks: An fMRI Study
Conference
Session 4: Skin & Brain Axis
Day 2
3:00 pm
Introduction
The affective qualities of cosmetic textures play a central role in the overall user experience, yet their neural mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study examined how the “after-feel” of cosmetic creams influences brain responses, investigating both sensory and emotional processing. We focused on how subtle variations in formulation, such as differences in emulsifier composition, can modulate the perception of touch and shape its affective dimension, providing insight into the neural basis of tactile pleasure during cosmetic use.
Methods
Twenty healthy women (18–45 years) participated in an fMRI experiment under one of three conditions: no cream (control), Cream A, or Cream B, differing in emulsifier composition. A fixed amount of cream was applied to predefined areas of the left hand. After absorption, participants performed a standardized self-stroking task at a controlled velocity. Functional images were preprocessed using a standardized pipeline and analyzed with a general linear model to identify condition-specific brain activations.
Results
No-cream and Cream B conditions mainly activated primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, particularly in the postcentral gyri. Cream A additionally activated the orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and putamen. Compared to Cream B, Cream A also elicited activations in prefrontal, temporal, and cerebellar regions, with smaller clusters in the supramarginal gyrus, precentral gyrus, and posterior insula.
Discussion
Finally, tactile stimulation with Cream A enhanced somatosensory responses and recruited regions associated with affective valuation and reward processing, indicating that the stimulus was experienced as more pleasant. Beyond this emotional dimension, prefrontal and associative areas were also engaged, suggesting higher-order cognitive appraisal. Together, these results show that subtle differences in the perceptual properties of the stimuli drive a hierarchical integration of touch, from sensory encoding to emotional relevance and cognitive evaluation
Eloïse Appelmans Gerardin
Brain Impact Neuroscience
Born in 1992 in Melun (France), Eloïse Gerardin worked from 2014 as a clinician in neurology and intensive care in a hospital setting. Fascinated by brain recovery mechanisms, she transitioned to research and pursued a Master’s in Neuroscience at Université Paris-Est Créteil in collaboration with INSERM and the Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP). In 2019, she began a PhD at UCLouvain under Prof. Yves Vandermeeren, studying post-stroke motor recovery using advanced neuroimaging. Since April 2024, she has been Data Science Manager at Brain Impact Neuroscience, leading research at the intersection of neuroscience, sensory innovation, and data science.
Founded in 2008 by Arnaud Pêtre, Brain Impact Neuroscience is a pioneer in exploring unconscious decision-making processes through functional MRI. The Belgian scale-up uses brain imaging to investigate decision-making mechanisms and the emotional responses triggered by products. What sets Brain Impact Neuroscience apart is its scientific rigor and its ability to analyze data from both fMRI scans and partner client datasets using the power of Artificial Intelligence. This technological integration allows for in-depth neuroscientific analysis, delivering reliable scientific results.
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