[Skin contact as a first experience. From touching to caressing].

This article consists of a review and a report on work carried out in the Laboratory of Developmental Neuropsychology of the Collège de France. Are considered: 1) Ethological and psychoanalytical concepts. 2) The role of the skin in the evolution of the infant-mother relationship during the foetal, neonate and first years of life. 3) Examples of types of manifestations where the skin is involved in interactions--cuddling, snuggling, hugging and its relationship to clinging, kissing, tickling. Finally, the theme of culture and touching is discussed. It is shown how mutual affective functioning is born out of shared pleasureful skin-yo-skin experiences in primordial situations of security and body-to-body dialogue.