Investigating the Efficacy of Pain Relief Through a Robot's Stroking with Speech

Abstract

"Stroking" is generally recognized to contribute to pain relief. Recent research indicates that combining "stroking with speech" by a robot generates greater positive emotions in individuals than either "speech" or "stroking" only. It has also been known that positive emotions can mitigate the perception of pain. This study aimed to verify whether the action of "stroking with speech" by a robot can reduce pain. We established two hypotheses: 1. Based on the gate control theory, the action of "stroking" with tactile stimulation and "stroking with speech" have pain-relieving effects. 2. The action of "stroking with speech," which has a greater psychological impact than "stroking," has a more significant pain-relieving effect. Through experiments with 37 subjects, these two hypotheses were supported.