Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Proprioception refers to the sense of body position and movement. It allows individuals to be aware of the location and orientation of their body parts without relying on visual cues.
Related terms
Kinesthesia: Kinesthesia is closely related to proprioception and refers specifically to the perception of movement and muscle activity.
Vestibular sense: The vestibular sense contributes to our overall sense of balance and spatial orientation by detecting changes in head position and movement.
Somatosensation: Somatosensation is a broader term that encompasses various sensory modalities including touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception.