Somatosensory Processing | Understanding Neurodiversity
There is a fundamental system in human experience that is underrecognized, misunderstood, and largely ignored. Welcome to your sensorimotor system! Even when you sleep, your sensorimotor system is working to organize and interpret information as perceived through your senses.
Somatosensory/Sensorimotor processing is about:
Perception of information from inside your body and the external environment through your sensorimotor organs, muscles, skin, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, internal preceptors.
Organization & Interpretation of this information in your brain.
Integration of this information.
Response to this information.
We’re not all wired the same…
Sensorimotor differences are unbelievably common, and often misunderstood/misinterpreted causing what we may consider ‘out of synch’ behavior. Recognizing somatosensory differences can help us better understand ourselves and lead to improved wellness. Adjusting or modifying our environments and perceptions can bring about a sense of agency, improve functioning and build resilience. There are also three “mystery senses” I’ll discuss a little later.
Sensorimotor Differences are Unbelievably Common
We all perceive the world differently! An example is our visual acuity: I wear glasses, but it’s very unlikely that my corrective lens prescription will match your visual needs. This example can be generalized to ALL the information we receive from our sensorimotor perception sources! It becomes especially important when we magnify or minimize intake from our senses and/ or struggle to integrate all of it in a smooth, timely manner. With intense somatosensory differences, a person may trigger the fight-flight-freeze system, experience physical pain, become disoriented or experience other significant reactions.
Examples:
Feeling visually overwhelmed in a busy room.
Needing lots of physical movement; it’s always hard to sit still.
Being uncomfortably dizzy on car rides, boats, airplanes.
Loud noises are a trigger for anxiety, panic attacks.
Recoiling from touch from others or from certain types of clothing.
Struggling to pay attention, even when there are no distractions.
Smells or tastes that don’t bother others are so strong they make you feel nauseous.
Having a high pain tolerance, to the point of not noticing fever or illness.
Frequently missing curbs, tripping, bumping into things.
And so many more…
What are the “Mystery Senses?”
1. Proprioception
Proprioception (or kinesthesia) is the sense of self-movement, force, and body position. Muscle receptors contract muscles and give us critical information of where the body is in space. An example: reaching for your coffee cup without looking for it as you read this article. ‘Deep pressure’ and ‘heavy work’ are phrases often used to describe proprioceptive input, and those activities provide a sense of calm and clarity/organization for neurodiverse and ‘typical’ brains alike.
Activities can include everything from yoga and active movement to hugs, massage, and chewing gum. Proprioception also includes ‘motor planning’ (aka praxis): the ideation, sequencing, and completion of a physical task. This is involved in literally all movement! An example is if I throw a ball to you: you recognize that it’s coming, sequence when to raise your hand, and complete the catch.
Proprioception is incredibly important - and when input is magnified or minimized, it can make us need more or less movement – compelling us seek to activities, avoiding them, or …rendering us physically awkward. “Feeding’ the proprioceptive system with appropriate levels of movement, working to increase muscle tone, providing deep pressure input, and improving body awareness are just some ways to regulate the proprioceptive system. A few favorites are illustrated below!
2. Vestibular System
The vestibular system works with proprioception to provide a sense of balance to coordinate and organize movement. Receptors in the inner ear provide eye stabilization during movement and help us literally determine ‘which way is up.’ This sense isn’t a complete mystery, since we think about it whenever we’re dizzy!
We know that vestibular input can continue to be felt for hours after the experience (i.e., still feeling you’re on the boat after disembarking). Individuals who are sensitive in the vestibular system may avoid airplane travel, car rides, and boating. Gravitational insecurity and vertigo can be very real, and trigger anxiety and fear, as these misperceptions communicate to the brain that the body is in danger. Conversely, other individuals may seek out vestibular movement to bring a sense of calm: think about swinging in a hammock (proprioception and vestibular input)!
Moderating the vestibular system may involve balance activities, spinning or rolling, and moving on an exercise ball; for sensitivity, these activities are introduced slowly and gradually, so neural pathways can develop, and tolerance can improve.
3. Interoception
Interoception is the collection of senses providing information about the internal state of the body. This can be both conscious and unconscious and allows for nuanced perception of bodily states. It is important for maintaining homeostatic conditions inside the body and can encompass both physical and emotional sensations. Thus, the interoceptive system is the perception, processing, and response to the messages received from inside the body.
Sensations of pain, fatigue, hunger, and thirst are examples of Interoception; these and many more feelings can be experienced with intensity, or almost not at all. Consider if a person is unaware of fever and illness symptoms, or conversely, is constantly noticing their heartbeat. Bodily sensations are closely linked with how we feel emotionally as well, so magnified or minimized, these affect mood and ability to function. Developing the ‘just right’ level of internal awareness may involve somatic treatment such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Prepocessing), breathwork, meditation and mindful activities.
A lovely illustrative video about Interoception can be found on YouTube here.
Making Adjustments & Building Resilience
Since each of us perceives, interprets, and reacts to sensory differences uniquely, it is important to realize that adjustments are idiosyncratic! Individuals don’t necessarily recognize how their experiences have governed their actions and reactions, although others are painfully aware of the challenges they face.
There are numerous approaches to make functional changes.
First, determine the specifics of sensorimotor differences.
Second, determine possible adjustments: avoidance, environmental adaptation, personal adaptation, intake levels, progressive desensitization, and/or additional stimulation – each as appropriate.
These simple first steps can provide more awareness of the ways in which we typically perceive the world and thus offer more choice in how we respond. This freedom to choose helps build resilience.
Determining Sensory Differences
Therapists often use various standardized assessments, notably the Sensory Profile Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (pearsonassessments.com). However, an abundance of sensory checklists are available to help put on ‘sensory glasses.’ An example includes can be found here. There are many more. This is a great way to develop self-awareness and understanding of individual differences, large or small.
Remember, these differences are neurologically based and have likely been in place since early childhood unless adaptations have been made (i.e., when someone with poor proprioception engages in rock-climbing classes and improves motor planning skills.)
Making Adjustments
This is the tricky part; optimal results are achieved when working with an occupational therapist or trained professional to develop strength-based methods to improve function. Everyone is unique in their needs and responses, and a certain amount of trial and error is necessary to determine which tools and techniques provide resources and relief.
Avoidance: Sometimes, the most functional approach is to avoid situations where the
sensorimotor system is triggered. If the noise and vast array of products at Costco is
overwhelming during peak hours, an individual could shop there early in the morning or
later in the evening, or have items delivered to home – far more common post-Covid.
Tags that are scratchy on the skin can be cut out, or seamless socks can be found for
tactile sensitivity. The hope with avoidance is to remove the stimulus without causing
isolation and improving overall experience.
Environmental Adaptation: It may be possible to make changes to surroundings that
cause discomfort or difficulty. For example, standing desks and movement breaks may
benefit those who seek proprioceptive input, establishing a fragrance-free workplace,
changing lighting in an overly bright workplace may offer significant relief.
Personal Adaptation: An individual with sensorimotor differences may discover methods
of managing themselves in various situations: use of noise-cancelling headphones,
chewing gum or crunching on carrots, having a squishy ball on the desk, tuning into
one’s breath and internal sensations all can be techniques to improve one’s reaction to
sensory input.
Progressive Desensitization: This is a process where, over time, a person learns slowly to adapt to sensations that trigger negative responses (but pose no danger). For example, if someone is triggered by the feeling of wind on the face they can work to address this issue. It may be done by starting in a quiet room and introducing a slow-moving fan, while over time encouraging the person to feel calm, breathe, and regulate their responses - as the fan is moving closer or is spinning more quickly. Since there are often other reasons that triggers occur, it is important for a professional to understand the interactions of sensorimotor and emotional responses while working on desensitization.
Additional Stimulation: Those who crave additional sensorimotor movement – and there are many. – can learn to provide themselves appropriate input throughout the day which ‘feeds’ the need for more intake. This often includes deliberately building in regulated proprioceptive and vestibular movement (activities such as walking, jumping, rotating, chair or wall push-ups) during the day. Those who seek tactile input can provide themselves with an array of textures to experience throughout the day: drying off after the shower vigorously with a textured towel, actively brushing or combing hair, using a fidget in the pocket (even a smooth rock), having a warming pad available (‘hot hands’), taking barefoot time inside or out….and more.
There are other individuals who require additional sensorimotor stimulation due to ‘low registration’ (challenges with ‘missing’ sensory input, either due to intake or brain processing.) These people may not readily respond to aspects of their environment due to low arousal. Additional stimulation is required for those with low registration: providing strong scents (essential oils, cooking smells), bright colors, louder sounds, and focus on breathing and body awareness - depending upon the needs.
Putting It All Together!
The sensorimotor system is the origin of all human perception! It is part of everyone’s daily experiences. Awareness of its importance can bring ‘aha!’ moments, as well as more understanding about how our brains work.
From Sally Carman…
Sally Carman OTR/L
“Connecting with others in a meaningful way is deeply important to me! With over 40 years of rich employment history as an Occupational Therapist working with individuals of all ages, I continue to actively research current topics pertinent to best practices. My passion and enthusiasm for strength-based treatment, collaboration, and flexibility have brought me requests for repeated trainings and consultations around topics such as neurodivergence, trauma-responsive treatment, somatosensory processing, anxiety management and more. Practical tools are provided that can be readily implemented, using evidence-based, mind-body strategies and drawing from an array of therapy styles. As a lifelong learner with a high energy level, it is an honor to provide customized training and consulting services. I look forward to working with you!”
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