sensoryreweighting

Sensory reweighting is the dynamic adjustment of the relative influence of sensory cues used to estimate body position and motion in space. The brain combines information from visual, vestibular, and somatosensory (proprioceptive and tactile) sources, weighting them according to their reliability. When one source becomes unreliable or conflicting, the brain shifts reliance toward more dependable inputs to maintain orientation and balance.

The process is thought to follow principles of probabilistic cue integration, often described within Bayesian frameworks. Weights are updated rapidly in response to changes in sensory reliability, and may involve cortical and subcortical networks that process multisensory information and motor commands. The vestibular system provides heading and motion signals, vision provides environmental reference frames, and proprioception supplies body-centered information.

Contexts include standing and moving in changing environments, such as walking on unstable ground, being in darkness, or experiencing visual distortions. Individuals with vestibular loss, proprioceptive deficits, or aging may show altered reweighting, leading to increased dependence on the available cues and potentially a higher risk of imbalance or falls.

Measurement and applications: Researchers assess reweighting with posturography, sensory organization tests, and experiments that systematically remove or distort cues. Clinically, training and rehabilitation may aim to restore flexible reweighting, using balance training, sensory substitution devices, or controlled exposure to sensory conflicts.