Multisensory Integration: How Your Brain Uses Your Senses to Support Movement
As you move through your day, your brain is constantly receiving information from your body and your surroundings. What you see, hear and feel provides information that helps your brain understand what is happening and coordinate an appropriate response.
This process is known as multisensory integration.
It happens automatically throughout the day and plays a role in movement, balance, coordination and how we respond to changes in our environment.
But what exactly is multisensory integration, and what role does sensory information play in the way we move?
What is multisensory integration?
Multisensory integration is the process through which the brain combines information from two or more sensory systems.
Rather than relying on one source of sensory information alone, the brain can bring information from different senses together to form a more complete picture of what is happening around and within the body.
Most of the time, this happens without conscious thought.
How does the brain receive information from your senses?
Your sensory systems are constantly providing your brain with information. Some of the systems involved in movement and balance include:
1. Vision
Your eyes provide information about your surroundings, including the location and movement of objects and your position relative to them.
2. Proprioception
Proprioception is your sense of where your body is in space. Sensory receptors in muscles, tendons and joints provide information about body position and movement.
3. Vestibular system
Structures within your inner ear detect information about head position and movement and play an important role in balance and spatial orientation.
These systems work alongside one another, with the brain processing information from multiple sources to help coordinate movement and respond to the environment.
Why does multisensory integration matter?
Bringing together information from different sensory systems helps your brain develop a more complete understanding of your body and surroundings.
This plays a role in your ability to:
- Coordinate movement
- Maintain balance
- Understand where your body is in space
- Adapt movement as your environment changes
- Respond to different physical demands
In simple terms, your brain is constantly receiving, comparing and combining sensory information as you move through the world.
What does this have to do with movement?
Movement involves much more than muscles contracting and joints moving.
Your nervous system receives and processes sensory information, while your musculoskeletal system provides the structures that allow you to move. These systems work together whenever you walk, reach, exercise, change direction or maintain your balance.
Understanding this relationship can be useful when assessing movement and musculoskeletal concerns. However, multisensory integration itself is a complex neurological process and changes in movement or discomfort can have many possible contributing factors.
What does a chiropractor assess?
When you visit Northcote Health & Wellness with a musculoskeletal concern, Dr Chris will begin by discussing your symptoms, health history and what you have noticed about your movement or function.
Depending on your individual presentation, a chiropractic assessment may consider factors such as:
- Joint and spinal movement
- Muscle function
- Posture
- Movement patterns
- Balance and coordination, where clinically relevant
The purpose of the assessment is to better understand your presentation and determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for your individual needs.
Movement and nervous system assessment in Northcote
Depending on your symptoms and clinical history, your assessment may include observations or tests relevant to your movement, balance, coordination or neurological function.
At Northcote Health & Wellness, assessment findings are considered alongside your symptoms and health history to help determine an appropriate approach to your care.
You can learn more about what may be involved in a nervous system assessment at Northcote Health & Wellness.
If your presentation requires further investigation or assessment outside the scope of chiropractic care, referral to an appropriate healthcare professional may be recommended.
Understanding your movement and function
Your brain is constantly processing information from your body and surroundings to help you move, balance and respond to the world around you.
Multisensory integration is one part of this complex process. While understanding the relationship between sensory information, the nervous system and movement can provide useful context, every person’s symptoms and movement concerns are different.
At Northcote Health & Wellness, we assess your individual presentation to better understand your musculoskeletal concerns and determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.
If you’d like to discuss your movement or musculoskeletal concerns, book an appointment with Northcote Health & Wellness.
