Introduction
Bathesthesia is a term coined by the neurologist Sir Charles Sherrington in 1906 to describe the sense of deep pressure and touch that is experienced by the body. It is a form of somatosensory perception that is distinct from the more common senses of touch, pressure, and temperature. Bathesthesia has been studied extensively in the neurological and psychological literature and is relevant to both clinical and research contexts. This article will discuss the concept of bathesthesia, its neurological basis, and its clinical implications.
Definition
Bathesthesia is defined as “the sensation of deep pressure and touch that is experienced by the body” (Sherrington, 1906). This includes sensations such as the feeling of a deep massage, the experience of weight on the body, and the feeling of being touched or hugged. Bathesthesia is distinct from other forms of touch perception, such as light touch, temperature, and pressure, and is considered to be a form of somatosensory perception.
Neurological Basis
The neurological basis of bathesthesia is complex and not yet fully understood. It is thought to involve the integration of sensory input from multiple sources, including the skin, muscles, joints, and internal organs. The somatosensory cortex is thought to play a major role in the processing of bathesthetic information, as it is responsible for integrating many types of sensory information and sending it to the brain for interpretation. Other areas of the brain, such as the insula, are also thought to be involved in the perception of bathesthesia (Hirata et al., 2018).
Clinical Implications
Bathesthesia has been studied extensively in the clinical context, particularly in relation to its role in pain perception. It has been suggested that bathesthesia may play a role in the perception of pain, particularly in chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia (Hirata et al., 2018). It has also been suggested that bathesthesia may play a role in the perception of touch, as well as emotional regulation (Hirata et al., 2018).
Conclusion
Bathesthesia is a distinct form of somatosensory perception that is distinct from the more common senses of touch, pressure, and temperature. The neurological basis of bathesthesia is complex and not yet fully understood, but it is thought to involve the integration of sensory input from multiple sources. Bathesthesia has been studied extensively in the clinical context, and has been suggested to play a role in the perception of pain and emotional regulation.
References
Hirata, T., Miyazaki, K., Tsuji, S., Konno, S., Otsu, M., & Matsuda, F. (2018). Bathesthesia: Perception of deep pressure and touch. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 87, 291-299.
Sherrington, C. S. (1906). The integrative action of the nervous system. New Haven: Yale University Press.