The effect of tactile stimulation on heart rate (HR) in humans was investigated under 3 conditions: experimenter outside of the room in which subject was sitting; experimenter in the room with the subject; experimenter in the room while touching the subject''s right wrist. Nonsignificant increases in HR were observed when the experimenter entered the room (X, mean = 0.64 beats per minute (bpm)). Large decreases occurred when the experimenter placed his hand on the subject''s wrist (X = 9.16 bpm, P < 0.05). To determine if tactile stimulation alone accounts for these differences, 3 comparisons were made in a 2nd experiment (exp): experimenter out of test room, subject touches own wrist; experimenter in room standing near subject; experimenter touching subject''s wrist. Subjects showed slightly elevated HR during the self-touch condition (X = 1.26 bpm, not significant). Although no change was noted with the experimenter standing beside the subject, there were decreases, as in Exp 1, when the experimenter touched the subject''s wrist (X = 1.75 bpm, P < 0.05). Apparently, the observed decreases in HR were contingent upon another person''s touch. While self-tactile stimulation produced a slight increase in HR, tactile stimulation by another caused bradycardia.