The Hidden Power of Proprioception in Interoception Processing

Reframing Proprioception: More Than Position Sense

For years, we've viewed proprioception as simply our ability to know where our body is in space. However, advances in neuroscience have promoted the inclusion of somatic systems—including proprioception—to the interoceptive domain (Chen et al., 2021). Research reveals that proprioception is actually a vital component of somatic interoception—our broader capacity to sense and interpret signals from within our body (Schmitt & Schoen, 2022).

Proprioception falls under what researchers call "somatic afference"—the activation of receptors in muscles, joints, and connective tissues that help us gather information about our internal state and our relationship to the environment (Quadt et al., 2018). This input is central to developing our "body scheme"—the brain's internal representation of our body that forms the foundation of our sense of self (Ayres, 1994).

The Multisensory Integration Process

Building the Foundation of Self

Proprioceptive information doesn't work in isolation. Instead, it contributes to a complex multisensory integration process where:

• Muscle and joint receptors provide information about body position and movement
• This information combines with vestibular input (balance/spatial orientation) and visceral signals (internal organ sensations) (Craig, 2015; Ondobaka et al., 2017)
• The brain integrates all these streams to create a unified sense of embodiment and body ownership (Ceunen et al., 2016; Khoury et al., 2018)
• This integrated awareness forms the foundation for motor planning, emotional regulation, and social participation (Khalsa et al., 2018; Marshall et al., 2018)

The Motor Coordination Connection

Research shows that the bodily sense of agency and ownership for motor action is based on sensation—and this sensation is interoceptive in nature (Gallagher, 2000). Proprioceptive input contributes to motor coordination in collaboration with stored representations of past motor experiences (Schmitt & Schoen, 2022).

The Process:

1. Proprioceptive sensors provide information about current body position and movement
2. This information integrates with other interoceptive signals
3. The brain compares this integrated information with stored motor memories
4. Prediction errors are used to refine future movements
5. Conscious intention and action planning can then occur

The Predictive Processing Framework

Proprioception contributes to interoception through what's called the predictive processing framework (Barrett & Simmons, 2015):

1. Sensory Input: Proprioceptive signals are processed by the central nervous system
2. Prediction Formation: The brain compares these sensations to past experiences to create predictions
3. Error Detection: When there's a mismatch between predicted and actual sensations, the brain can:
• Modify the prediction
• Generate actions to match predicted sensations
• Adjust attention to incoming sensory signals (Barrett & Simmons, 2015)

This framework helps us understand why proprioceptive processing difficulties can have such far-reaching effects on function and participation.

Therapeutic Implications

Understanding the proprioceptive-interoceptive connection opens up powerful intervention possibilities:

Bottom-Up Approaches

Interventions that emphasise somatic awareness through:

• Repetitive, rhythmical movements within body-based activities
• Slow, controlled movements of varying speed and timing
• Mirroring activities and movements
• Multisensory feedback to enhance discrimination of interoceptive sensation

The Therapeutic Principle

By providing rich proprioceptive input combined with mindful attention to body sensations, we're literally helping to build the neural foundation for improved body awareness, motor coordination, and self-regulation.

This approach shifts our focus from over-reliance on cognitive strategies to emphasising non-verbal, preconscious bodily responses and movement activities that are adaptive to situational challenges (Ogden et al., 2006; Ceunen et al., 2016).

The Bigger Picture

Proprioception's contribution to interoception processing illustrates the beautiful complexity of how our nervous system creates a unified sense of self (Tsakiris & Critchley, 2016). Rather than viewing proprioception as merely "position sense," we can understand it as a crucial contributor to our overall interoceptive capacity—our ability to sense, interpret, and respond to the constant flow of information from within our bodies.

This understanding transforms how we approach intervention, encouraging us to consider proprioceptive activities not just for motor skills, but as fundamental building blocks for body awareness, emotional regulation, and meaningful participation in life.

The Evidence is Clear

Research consistently shows us that sensing, determining salience, and interpreting sensory information from multiple bodily systems—including proprioception—is truly an act of multidimensional sensory integration that supports our sense of self and our ability to engage meaningfully with the world (Khalsa et al., 2018; Khoury et al., 2018).

This isn't just theory—it's the foundation for more effective, comprehensive intervention approaches that honour the complexity of human functioning (Fischer et al., 2017).

Ready to Learn More? Your Next Step: If you're ready to transform your understanding of how sensory systems work together to support human development, The SenseUp Approach Course LITE is waiting for you.  

Why TSAC - LITE? 

This comprehensive course will help you: 

Understand the Complete Picture: Explore how proprioception integrates with vestibular, tactile, visual, auditory and interoceptive systems to support participation and wellbeing. 

Master Assessment Strategies: Learn to identify when proprioceptive processing difficulties are impacting interoceptive awareness and overall function. 

Develop Targeted Interventions: Discover evidence-based approaches that address the multisensory foundations of body awareness, motor planning, and emotional regulation. 

Apply the Research: Transform recent neuroscience into practical, effective intervention strategies that make a real difference in people's lives. 

Think Systemically: Move beyond single-system approaches to understand the beautiful complexity of multisensory integration and its impact on participation.

Learn More about TSAC Here

Blog References

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