somatosensory

adjective

so·​mato·​sen·​so·​ry sō-ˌma-tə-ˈsen(t)s-rē 

-ˈsen(t)-sə-rē, 

ˌsō-mə-tə-

: of, relating to, or being the largely subconscious perception of stimuli associated with temperature, light touch, pain, body position, and movement through specialized receptors chiefly in the skin, joints, and muscles : relating to or involving somatosensation

The human balance control system relies, in part, on somatosensory feedback, and in adults 65 years or older, diminished somatosensation is associated with an increased likelihood of falling.

—James Collins, quoted in The Boston Globe

also : relating to or being either of two regions in the parietal lobe that receive and process somatosensory stimuli

The soles of the feet contain thousands of mechanoreceptors that detect pressure, vibration, texture and movement. Signals from these receptors travel through peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and up to an area of the brain called the somatosensory cortex, which maintains a map of the body.

—Atom Sarkar

Examples of somatosensory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The vestibular system, which is located in the inner ear, the somatosensory system, which controls your movements and helps your brain understand what your body is sensing, and vision all play a role in your overall balance. — Cassie Hurwitz, SELF, 11 Feb. 2026

Sensory input from the feet activates somatosensory regions of the brain. — Atom Sarkar, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2026

The firing rates in the motor and somatosensory cortex, on the other hand, looked radically different. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 20 Jan. 2026

Touch Migraine attacks can also cause changes in the somatosensory system, the parts of your nervous system that regulate your sense of touch, pressure, pain, and body position. — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 19 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for somatosensory

• dispensary
• suspensory
• extrasensory
• multisensory
• sensory

Medical Definition

somatosensory

adjective

so·​ma·​to·​sen·​so·​ry sō-ˌmat-ə-ˈsen(t)s-(ə-)rē  ˌsō-mət-ə- 

: of, relating to, or being the largely subconscious perception of stimuli associated with temperature, light touch, pain, body position, and movement through specialized receptors chiefly in the skin, joints, and muscles : relating to or involving somatosensation

a somatosensory stimulus

somatosensory pathways

also : relating to or being either of two regions in the parietal lobe that receive and process somatosensory stimuli

somatosensory regions