Somatotyperna

Somatotyperna is a proposed theoretical framework in neuroscience that seeks to describe how the brain integrates somatic sensory input, proprioception, and autonomic signals into a unified body representation. The term denotes a somatotopic type of organization across multiple brain networks, rather than a single cortical map, suggesting that body-related information is structured along distributed, overlapping gradients that coordinate perception, action, and internal state.

In this view, somatotyperna encompasses interactions between primary somatosensory cortex, parietal association areas, insular cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem. It posits that forthcoming neural maps mirror aspects of body layout (limbs, trunk, face) while incorporating dynamic state signals such as effort, fatigue, and interoception. The model draws on concepts of the body schema and body image, predictive coding, and Bayesian inference to explain how deficits in any component can alter sense of body ownership or motor control.

Somatotyperna is not an established theory with direct empirical validation; rather, it serves as a conceptual tool to frame questions about cross-modal integration and the neural basis of embodiment. Researchers reference it in theoretical discussions and in designing experiments aimed at tracing distributed body maps during perception, touch, movement, and emotion. Critics note that the brain's representation of the body is highly plastic and context-dependent, making a single cohesive map unlikely.

See also: somatotopy, proprioception, body schema, interoception, embodiment.