DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE EIGHT SENSES, NOT FIVE?
Yes, you got it. So far, science has proven we have 8 sensory systems, not 5. So when my kids started learning about the "5 senses" at school, I just casually let them know we actually have 8, but starting with five is okay Okay, so what are the 8 sensory systems?
Well we all know the first five, right? Sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing. Here's the other three:
Vestibular (Balance & Movement) – Located in the inner ear, it helps maintain balance, posture, and coordination.
Proprioceptive (Body Awareness) – Provides feedback from muscles and joints about body position and movement.
Interoception (Internal Body Awareness) – Senses internal states like hunger, thirst, heart rate, and emotional cues.
These sensory systems provide the brain with essential information about body position, movement, balance, and internal sensations, all of which influence the nervous system's ability to regulate emotions. The vestibular system is involved in posture and eye movements, when intentionally integrated, can promote a sense of security and reduce anxiety, while the proprioceptive system sends signals from muscles and joints that (when integrated) support a sense of grounding, calming the nervous system and improving focus. The interoceptive system processes internal bodily signals like hunger, heart rate, and emotional states, helping individuals recognize and respond to their needs. When these systems are appropriately integrated according to a child's individual needs, they enhance bodily homeostasis, allowing the brain to manage stress responses more effectively, support cognition by improving attention and learning, and foster emotional regulation by reducing overwhelm and promoting a sense of control.
Understanding how our bodies process sensory information is crucial for fostering emotional well-being and development. Two key sensory systems—vestibular and proprioceptive—play significant roles in emotional regulation, trauma recovery, and overall growth. This blog post explores their impacts and offers practical tools for both children and adults.
1. How Do Vestibular and Proprioceptive Inputs Support Emotional Regulation in Children and Adults?
Vestibular Input refers to the sense of balance and spatial orientation, originating from the inner ear. It helps us understand our body's position in space. Proprioceptive Input involves the awareness of body position and movement, facilitated by receptors in muscles and joints.
Research indicates that these sensory systems are foundational for emotional regulation. Proper integration of vestibular and proprioceptive inputs contributes to bodily homeostasis, cognition, and emotion. (1)
Tips/Tools for Parents to Support Their Children:
Swinging Activities: Encourage play on swings or merry-go-rounds to provide vestibular stimulation, enhancing balance and spatial orientation.
Animal Walks: Engage children in activities like "bear walks" or "crab walks" to promote proprioceptive input, improving body awareness.
Obstacle Courses: Create simple obstacle courses that require crawling, jumping, and balancing to integrate both sensory systems, aiding in emotional regulation.
Tips/Tools for Parents to Support Themselves:
Yoga: Incorporate yoga routines that emphasize balance and stretching to stimulate vestibular and proprioceptive systems, promoting relaxation and emotional stability.
Tai Chi: Practice Tai Chi to enhance body awareness and balance, supporting emotional well-being.
Balance Exercises: Engage in activities like standing on one foot or using balance boards to strengthen the vestibular system and improve focus.
2. How Do Vestibular and Proprioceptive Inputs Support Trauma Survivors?
Trauma can disrupt the brain’s ability to process and integrate sensory information, leading to dysregulation in both emotional and physical responses.
When someone experiences trauma, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) often remains in a state of hyperarousal (fight-or-flight) or hypoarousal (freeze/collapse), making it difficult to feel grounded and present. The vestibular system, responsible for balance and spatial awareness, plays a crucial role in recalibrating the nervous system by providing rhythmic, predictable movement that helps reestablish a sense of stability and control. Engaging in activities like swinging, rocking, or balance exercises stimulates the cerebellum, which has strong connections to emotional regulation centers in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, helping to reduce stress responses.
Similarly, the proprioceptive system, which processes deep pressure and joint/muscle activation, provides a grounding effect by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)—specifically the vagus nerve, which promotes relaxation and co-regulation. Activities such as weighted exercises, pushing and pulling motions, or deep pressure input (e.g., weighted blankets or firm hugs) help release calming neurotransmitters. (2.5)
For trauma survivors, these sensory inputs rebuild the brain-body connection by fostering safety within the nervous system, improving self-regulation, and allowing the body to process and release stored tension. Over time, regular vestibular and proprioceptive activities help retrain neural pathways, enabling a more balanced stress response and greater resilience in emotional and sensory processing.
Tips/Tools for Parents to Support Their Children:
Gentle Rocking: Use rocking chairs or gentle swinging to provide soothing vestibular input, helping children feel secure.
Weighted Blankets: Introduce weighted blankets to offer proprioceptive feedback, promoting a sense of safety and calm.
Mindfulness Activities: Engage in mindfulness practices that incorporate gentle movement, aiding in sensory integration and emotional regulation.
Tips/Tools for Parents to Support Themselves:
Somatic Experiencing: Participate in therapies focusing on bodily sensations to process and release trauma, improving sensory integration.
Dance Therapy: Engage in dance or movement therapies to reconnect with bodily sensations and enhance emotional expression.
Yoga and Team Sports: Participate in Yoga which has been proven scientifically to support trauma-survivors. Recreational sports enhance proprioceptive feedback, social connection, and overall well-being.
3. How Do Vestibular and Proprioceptive Inputs Support Healing and Growth in Children?
A child's ability to process sensory information is crucial for their growth and development. Activating the vestibular (balance and movement) and proprioceptive (body awareness) systems can help children learn better, manage their emotions, and engage more confidently in everyday activities. Research indicates that these sensory systems are crucial in trauma recovery, as they help reintegrate brain-body connections and foster resilience. (3)
Tips/Tools for Parents to Support Their Children:
Climbing Activities: Encourage climbing on playground equipment to develop balance, coordination, and confidence.
Jumping Games: Engage in jumping rope or trampoline activities to provide proprioceptive input, supporting motor skills and emotional release.
Dancing: Promote free-form dancing to music, integrating sensory inputs and fostering creativity.
Tips/Tools for Parents to Support Themselves:
Pilates: Practice Pilates to improve body awareness, strength, and emotional well-being.
Gardening: Engage in gardening, which involves varied movements and sensory experiences, from lifting dirt or pushing wheelborrows, to just gently connecting with the eart.
Rocking Chair: Invest in a comfortable rocking chair - it's not just for babies! My own rocking chair is my "designated spot" in the living room!
Final Thoughts
Integrating vestibular and proprioceptive activities into daily routines can significantly enhance emotional regulation, support trauma recovery, and promote growth for both children and adults. By understanding and utilizing these sensory inputs, we can foster resilience, healing, and well-being in ourselves and our children.
Get your child equipped with these easy to install tools and resources in your home today - click to order:
(If in a different country, copy and paste the name of the item).
Sources:
(1): Božanić Urbančič N, Battelino S, Vozel D. Appropriate Vestibular Stimulation in Children and Adolescents-A Prerequisite for Normal Cognitive, Motor Development and Bodily Homeostasis-A Review. Children (Basel). 2023 Dec 19;11(1):2. doi: 10.3390/children11010002. PMID: 38275423; PMCID: PMC10814320.
(2): Kearney BE, Lanius RA. The brain-body disconnect: A somatic sensory basis for trauma-related disorders. Front Neurosci. 2022 Nov 21;16:1015749. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1015749. PMID: 36478879; PMCID: PMC9720153.
Comentários