about our sensory systems

Sensing the World; Making Sense of Ourselves – the eight sensory systems

and counting…

Sensory integration and processing is something we all do.

Our brains are busy every moment of the day, taking in information via the eight sensory systems, making sense of it, and helping us respond. This is not something we notice consciously most of the time, yet it underpins everything we do.

Without sensory input, we would know nothing about the world around us or about what is happening inside our own bodies. Without it, we could not do anything at all.

The world around us is full of sensory information. From the moment we are born, our senses allow us to connect with people and places. As babies, our ability to take in, organise, and respond to sensory information helps us develop, grow, and learn. We begin exploring, moving, communicating, and playing because our brains constantly work with sensory input.

As we age, nerves carry sensory information to the brain, where it is absorbed, interpreted, and organised. The brain then decides what to pay attention to and what to ignore before guiding us in what to do next.

Sensory Integration Matters

The senses work in tandem with memory and attention, giving the brain the information it needs to manage daily life. They help us make good decisions, stay alert at the right times, relax when it is safe to do so, and remain balanced and focused. This makes it possible for us to learn, build relationships, participate in work, and enjoy leisure activities.

As we move through life, our sensory integration and processing develop. We gradually become more skilled at filtering information, selecting what matters most and letting go of what is less critical. This helps us to respond more effectively, adapt to changing environments, and develop more complex behaviours. A toddler may find it hard to concentrate when there are bright lights, background noise, and lots of movement, while an older child may learn how to tune out distractions to focus on a story or a game. As adults, we refine these abilities even further, using our senses alongside our experiences and memories to navigate the world around us.

The nervous system, made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, is the body’s communication network. It receives messages from the senses, processes them, and decides what to do next. This means it plays a key role in everything we do, from walking and talking to planning, problem-solving, and socialising. The brain does not treat all sensory input equally. It filters what is relevant, interprets meaning, and generates an appropriate response. This constant flow of sensory integration and processing allows us to function, stay safe, and participate in everyday life.

The Eight Sensory Systems, and counting…

Most people are familiar with the five senses that bring us information from the outside world: vision (seeing); auditory (hearing); tactile (touch); olfactory (smell); and gustatory (taste).

Three equally essential senses bring vital information from inside our own bodies: vestibular (balance and movement sense, triggered by head movement and helping us stay upright and steady); proprioception (body awareness from stretch receptors in muscles, ligaments, and tendons, giving us a map of where our body is and guiding us as we move); and interoception (internal body signals such as heartbeat, breathing, hunger, thirst, temperature, pain, and comfort, supporting self-awareness, emotional understanding, and self-regulation).

Together, these eight senses create a constantly updated picture of ourselves and our world. This enables us to know what to do, when, and how to do it.

For some people, the brain finds it difficult to register, organise, or respond to sensory information. This can make everyday life more challenging. A person may feel easily overwhelmed in noisy or busy places; struggle to focus when there are many distractions; find certain textures, tastes, or smells uncomfortable; or miss essential cues from their body, such as hunger, tiredness, or pain.

These are not deficits. Differences in sensory integration and processing are part of the natural diversity of how human beings experience the world. Recognising and respecting these differences is the first step to creating environments that support every person’s full participation.

At ASI Wise and The Sensory Project™, sensory integration and processing is everyone’s business. We are all sensory beings. For some people, sensory integration and processing differences are part of their neurodiversity. For others, challenges may arise during illness, injury, or stress, or later in life as the body changes with age. Whatever the reason, recognising and responding to sensory needs is essential for participation, wellbeing, and growth.

When we understand how sensory integration and processing underpin everyday life, we can design inclusive, respectful, and supportive schools, workplaces, homes, and communities.

As one character in Grey’s Anatomy once said:

“The human body is made up of systems that keep it alive. The one that keeps you breathing, the one that keeps you standing, the one that makes you hungry and the one that makes you happy. They’re all connected, take a piece out and everything else falls apart. And it’s only when our support systems look like they might fail us that you realize how much we depended on them all along.”
(Season 8; Episode 9)

Sensory integration and processing are vital support systems. By noticing, valuing, and responding to them, we can create a world where every person – every sensory being – has the opportunity to thrive.