Includes walking, talking, facial expressions, gestures and posture. The sense that provides information through receptors in the muscles, tendons and joints and other animals and humans to control movement
What is Kinesthesis in psychology?
Kinesthesis, also called kinesthesia or proprioception, is the sensory experience of the body’s movement and location in space. Our ability to complete difficult activities and efficiently traverse our surroundings depends on this crucial component of our cognitive and motor functions. Being involved in learning, memory, and motor coordination highlights kinesthesis’ significance in psychology.
Our daily lives depend heavily on kinesthesis, which enables us to easily navigate our surroundings and carry out difficult activities. Researchers and clinicians can create focused interventions to enhance motor control, coordination, and balance by better understanding the proprioceptive receptors and the roles they perform.
What is the function of Kinesthesis?
What is the function of Kinesthesis?
In order to maintain balance, coordination, and spatial awareness, the brain needs information about the body’s position, movement, and muscle tension. Kinesthesis, also known as proprioception or the sense of body awareness, serves several important functions, including:
- Maintaining balance: By providing continuous feedback about the body’s position in relation to the surrounding environment, kinesthesis enables us to maintain balance and avoid falls or accidents.
- Ensuring coordination: Kinesthetic information allows for the smooth coordination of different body parts during complex movements, such as walking, dancing, or playing sports.
- Enhancing spatial awareness: Kinesthesis helps us understand where our body is in relation to other objects or people, allowing us to navigate through crowded spaces or avoid collisions.
- Contributing to motor learning: As we practice new movements or develop new motor skills, kinesthetic feedback allows us to adjust and refine our actions over time, ultimately leading to improved performance.
- Regulating effort and force: Kinesthesis helps us determine the appropriate amount of force needed to complete a specific movement, whether it’s lifting a heavy object or gently holding a delicate item. This information is crucial for effective motor planning and execution.
What are the Kinesthesis receptors?
Kinesthesis depends on proprioceptors, specialized sensory receptors that are located in muscles, tendons, and joints. These receptors include muscle spindles, which track length and rate of change in muscles, Golgi tendon organs, which track tension changes in muscles, and joint receptors, which track joint movement and angle. These receptors work together to give the neurological system critical knowledge about the position and motion of the body, allowing the brain to produce the proper motor responses.
Examples:
Walking without checking our feet is a common case of kinesthesis. Our ability to maintain balance and coordinate our movements depends on proprioceptive data from our muscles, tendons, and joints. Another example is being able to catch a ball, as kinesthetic information enables us to assess the trajectory of the ball, coordinate our motions, and modify our grip to firmly grab it. Kinesthesis is also essential for athletes since it helps them improve their performance, lower their risk of injury, and fine-tune their technique.
References:
Gallagher, S. (2005). How the Body Shapes the Mind. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/0199271941.001.0001
Horak, F. B. (2006). Postural orientation and equilibrium: what do we need to know about neural control of balance to prevent falls? Age and Ageing, 35(S2), ii7-ii11. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afl077
Lephart, S. M., & Fu, F. H. (Eds.). (2000). Proprioception and Neuromuscular Control in Joint Stability. Human Kinetics.
Mellalieu S, Jones C, Wagstaff C, Kemp S, Cross MJ. Measuring Psychological Load in Sport. Int J Sports Med. 2021 Jul;42(9):782-788. doi: 10.1055/a-1446-9642. Epub 2021 Apr 16. PMID: 33862638.
Wulf, G., & Shea, C. H. (2002). Principles derived from the study of simple skills do not generalize to complex skill learning. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 9(2), 185-211. DOI: 10.3758/BF03196276