With the debate over where a baby might do their non-nutritive sucking
continuing, I thought this abstract might be interesting.  I got it from
the Touch Research Institute page.  They have lots of interesting
information.
Still learning and apprectiating the complexity of humans,
Kerri Bundy

Uvnas-Moberg, K., Widstrom, A. M., Marchini, G., and
Winberg, J. (1987).Release of GI hormones in mother and
infant by sensory stimulation. [Review]. Acta Paediatrica
Scandinavica ,76(6), 851-860. 1

Abstract: It is well established that sensory stimulation is of
great importance for the growth of and for the physiological
and psychological development of infants. Supplementary
sensory stimulation such as non-nutritive sucking and tactile
stimulation has been shown to increase the growth rate and
the maturation of premature infants. In human neonates
non-nutritive sucking has a vagally mediated influence on the
levels of some gastrointestinal hormones. In animal
experiments afferent electrical stimulations of the sciatic
nerves at low intensity leads to an activation of the vagal
nerves and to a consequent release of vagally controlled
gastrointestinal hormones such as gastrin and
cholecystokinin. We therefore assume that both non-nutritive
sucking and tactile stimulation trigger the activity of sensory
nerves which leads to a release of vagally regulated gut
hormones. Since gut hormones stimulate gastrointestinal
motor and secretory activity and the growth of the
gastrointestinal tract, and enhance the glucose-induced
insulin release, they may contribute to the beneficial effects
on maturation and growth caused by sensory stimulation. In
the breast-feeding situation, the sucking of the child elicits
similar reflexes in the mother leading to an activation of the
maternal gut endocrine system and a consequent increase in
energy uptake. These data indicate that many types of
neurogenic reflexes induced in mother-infant interactions are
of importance for the energy economy of both mother and
child.

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