Propriosion

Propriosion is a term that appears in a small number of cognitive science and philosophy discussions to denote the internal sensing of one’s own bodily state. In these contexts, propriosion is often described as arising from the integration of proprioceptive, interoceptive, and motor information to form a coherent sense of body position and state. Because the term is not widely standardized, its exact scope and definition vary between sources.

Etymology and scope: The word combines Latin proprius meaning one’s own with a suffix used to form processes or actions. It is not a classic or widely adopted neurology term, and there is no universally accepted boundary between propriosion and related concepts such as proprioception or the body schema.

Usage and status: Propriosion is mentioned primarily in niche theoretical writings or speculative discussions. There is no consensus on whether it designates a distinct neural pathway, a broader mislabeling of existing senses, or simply a conceptual umbrella for integrated bodily sensing. In mainstream neuroscience, proprioception, interoception, and kinesthesia are the more commonly used terms, with propriosion appearing only in limited or nonstandard usage.

Relationship to related concepts: Proprioception typically refers to sensing limb position and movement through peripheral receptors; interoception concerns internal bodily states; the body schema is the brain’s representation of body form. Propriosion is sometimes described as overlapping with these concepts or as an emergent aspect of their integration, though this labeling is not universally accepted.

See also: Proprioception, Interoception, Kinesthesia, Body schema, Somatosensory system.