3 / Proprioception

Proprioception

The ability to perceive the position and movement of body parts, localize yourself in space, and sense muscle force or tension without using visual information.

Mechanoceptors

Specialized sensory neurons located in the locomotor system that provide sensory feedback.

Muscle Spindles

A type of mechanoceptor sensitive to stretching.

Golgi Tendon Organs

A type of mechanoceptor that responds to the tension of the tendon.

Joint Receptors

A type of mechanoceptor that signals the actual position of the joints.

Effect of Deafferentation

The result of damaged nerves carrying sensory information, leading to loss of smooth movement control and lack of limb awareness without vision.

Sense of Ownership

A psychological feeling that your body belongs to you; this is often lost during deafferentation.

Balance

The ability to maintain an upright, stable position by distributing weight evenly through integrated automatic and conscious responses.

Visual System (Balance)

The sensory system providing information about the environment for balance.

Vestibular System (Balance)

Organs in the inner ear that sense gravity and head movement.

Proprioceptive / Tactile System (Balance)

Sensory information derived from the muscles, joints, and the soles of the feet.

BTrackS System

A testing system used to measure balance across four specific conditions.

BTrackS: Standard Condition

A balance test condition that uses all available sensory information.

BTrackS: Proprioception Condition

A balance test condition relying mainly on proprioceptive and tactile input from the soles.

BTrackS: Vision Condition

A balance test condition relying mainly on visual information while tactile input is blurred.

BTrackS: Vestibular Condition

A balance test condition relying primarily on the inner ear with no vision and blurred tactile input.

Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI)

An experiment where a participant's real hand is hidden and replaced by a rubber hand; synchronous stroking of both creates an illusion of ownership.

Synchronous Stimulation

Simultaneous tactile and visual information that overwrites proprioception during the Rubber Hand Illusion.

Proprioceptive Accuracy

The individual acuity of perceiving proprioceptive information.

Joint Position Reproduction Test

A method to measure accuracy where a joint is moved to an angle and the participant must reproduce it with eyes closed.

Factors Affecting Accuracy

Proprioceptive accuracy declines with aging and movement disorders like Parkinson's, but can be improved through training.

Psychology and Body Position

The theory that an individual's physical state directly influences their emotions and judgments.

Power Posing

An expansive body position that can improve self-reported feelings of power and lead to hormonal changes.

Stress and Anxiety Management

The practice of reducing muscle tension through relaxation techniques to reduce psychological anxiety.

Flexor Muscle Activation

Activating muscles used to approach or pull objects, which leads to more positive judgments of neutral stimuli.

Extensor Muscle Activation

Activating muscles used to avoid or push objects, which leads to more negative judgments of neutral stimuli.