Longstaff, Jeffrey Scott (2003). A model for practical kinesthesia.
Poster Presentation. IADMS 13th Annual Conference, LABAN, London. 24-26 October.
(see the poster)
(see the full paper)
(see the reference list)
Model for Practical Kinesthesia: Abstract
A model of kinaesthetic sensitivity is presented. It is well known how perception of body movement is unique as it arises from diverse sensory pathways, each with particular response characteristics, rather than being centred on an individual sensory organ. Therefore it can be useful to devise a model of kinaesthesia which traces perceptual pathways and gives indications about principals for regulating intensity and selectivity in perception. This can be useful in any area when kinaesthesia is central to movement learning and performance.
The approach begins by comparing various general concepts for describing body movement perception in order to specify a working definition of ‘kinaesthesia’ for the model developed here. Receptor mechanisms are then reviewed focusing on response characteristics such as intensity, duration, and selectivity. Finally, kinaesthetic perceptions are traced according to how they arise though collaborations across receptor pathways.
Initially the inquiry finds an abundance of overlapping concepts such as kinaesthesia, proprioception, somaesthesia, haptic sense, sense of touch muscle sense, joint sense, and movement sense. This variety of similarly defined concepts can be encompassed within a broad working definition adopted here in which kinaesthesia is considered to arise from receptors in muscles, tendons, joints, skin, eyes, ears, vestibular system, and from internal ‘efferent’ feedback. Five kinaesthetic senses of balance or equilibrium, self motion, limb motion, limb position, and sense of force or exertion can be distinguished according to their individual patterns of coordination amongst sensory pathways. These sensory response characteristics and their interaction with voluntary attention and action can give indications about practical methods or perceptual attitudes for regulating kinaesthetic sensitivity.
This research outlines a broad model of kinaesthesia designed to suggest practical methods for regulating and assessing kinaesthetic sensitivity in classroom or experimental work.
(see the poster) (see the full paper) (see the reference list)