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What Is Sensory Integration / Sensory Processing?

Forum References FAQ's Quiz Lecture Introduction Each of the individual sensory systems (tactile, vestibular, proprioception, auditory, visual, gustatory and olfactory) has receptors, or specialized cells, throughout the body that provide the starting points that deliver messages to the brain (see chart above). As you can see, some of the receptors are located in specific areas of the body (gustatory/mouth; olfactory/nose; visual/eyes; auditory/ears and vestibular/inner ear) and others (tactile/skin; proprioception/muscles and joints) are spread throughout the body. The location of the receptors relates to the functions of each of the systems. For example, the receptors for the tactile system are located in our skin, making this the most global of all the systems, covering our entire body. However, some areas of the skin have more receptors than other areas. Our mouth, hands, feet and genitals have far more tactile receptors than our back or legs. This makes sense when you think about how important our mouth, hands and feet are for our survival and daily functioning. Other systems, olfactory and gustatory are more centrally located (nose and mouth), helping our brain determine whether or not foods smell and taste the way they should. Click pictures of the sensory systems below to see more information.

The Sensory Systems: It all starts here

System
Location
Function

Tactile

(touch)

 Skin Ð density of cell distribution varies throughout the body. Areas of greatest density include mouth, hands and genitals Provides information about the environment and object qualities (touch, pressure, texture, hard, soft, sharp, dull, heat, cold, pain)

Vestibular

(balance)

 Inner ear Ð stimulated by head movements and input from other senses, especially visual Provides information about where our body is in space, and whether or not we or our surroundings are moving. Tells about speed and direction of movement

Proprioception

(body awareness)

 Muscles and joints Ð activated by muscle contractions and movement Provides information about where a certain body part is and how it is moving

Visual

(sight)

 Retina of the eye Ð stimulated by light Provides information about objects and persons. Helps us define boundaries as we move through time and space

Auditory

(hearing)

 Inner ear Ð stimulated by air/sound waves Provides information about sounds in the environment (loud, soft, low, near, far)

Gustatory

(taste)

 Chemical receptors in the tongue Ð closely entwined with the olfactory (smell) system Provides information about different types of taste (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, spicy)

Olfactory

(smell)

 Chemical receptors in the nasal structure Ð closely associated with the gustatory system Provides information about different types of smell (musty, acrid, putrid, flowery, pungent)

From: Myles, B. S., Cook, K.T., Miller, N. E., Rinner, L., & Robbins, L. A. (2000). Asperger syndrome and sensory issues: Practical solutions for making sense of the world. Shawnee Mission, KS. Autism Asperger Publishing Company

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