Neurosensory

Neurosensory is a term used to describe the interaction between the nervous system and the senses. It concerns how sensory receptors detect stimuli, how signals are transmitted through neural pathways, and how the brain interprets this information to produce perception, behavior, and cognition. The term covers traditional modalities, including vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, as well as proprioception, vestibular sense, and other specialized sensory systems.

Neurosensory research maps the pathways from peripheral receptors through brainstem and thalamus to cortical areas, and it investigates how these signals are integrated with memory, attention, and motor planning. Topics include neural coding of stimulus features, multisensory integration, and plastic changes that follow injury or experience. Clinically, neurosensory concerns arise across neurology, audiology, ophthalmology, and neuropsychology.

Developmentally, neurosensory function emerges and matures through childhood, with sensory experiences shaping neural circuits. Disorders in neurosensory processing can involve diminished detection, abnormal transmission, or impaired cortical processing, and may appear as sensory processing disorders, peripheral neuropathies, or central processing deficits. Assessment typically combines behavioral testing, electrophysiology, and imaging.

Applications include rehabilitation strategies and assistive technologies that leverage neural plasticity, such as cochlear implants, retinal implants, and vestibular rehabilitation. The field also informs design in human factors and brain–computer interfaces, where sensory signals are translated into actionable outputs.