Sumaiya Shaikh

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About

Sumaiya Shaikh is a neuroscientist investigating the neural mechanisms of social touch and its role in pain modulation. Her research centers on the somatosensory system, specifically how unmyelinated C-tactile (CT) afferents—nerve fibers that encode gentle, pleasant touch—influence pain perception and emotional well-being. In her most cited work, "Social Touch Reduces Pain Perception—An fMRI Study of Cortical Mechanisms" (2023, 23 citations), Shaikh demonstrated that CT-targeted robotic stroking significantly reduces experimental mechanical pain, revealing key cortical pathways involved in this analgesic effect. This study advanced understanding of how affective touch engages brain regions linked to reward and emotion, distinct from purely sensory pathways. Her earlier work, "Robotic Stroking on the Face and Forearm: Touch Satiety and Effects on Mechanical Pain" (2021, 5 citations), explored how long-lasting brushing stimuli applied to the face and forearm affect pain and touch satiety, highlighting the importance of stimulus duration and body site in tactile analgesia. Shaikh’s contributions bridge affective neuroscience and clinical pain research, offering insights into non-pharmacological interventions for pain management. Her innovative use of robotic stimulation to isolate CT-fiber activation has opened new avenues for understanding the therapeutic potential of social touch.