Thigmotaxis (from Greek thigma, "touch" meaning contact with an object, and taxis, "arrangement, order", meaning reaction by movement[1]) is a behavioral response to tactile stimuli, typically referring to an organism's movement in response to physical contact with surfaces or objects. For example, animals, when placed into a new enclosed space, tend to stay near the perimeter while avoiding the interior area. This is known as wall-following/touching or centrophobic behavior.[1]
This type of movement is genetically grounded and can be observed in both animals and humans.[1]