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somatosense

somatosense

9.9
A body sense that lets you feel touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and body position
  • noun
  • /ˌsoʊməˈtoʊˌsɛns/
  • Specialized
translation icon : somatosensación
  • The somatosense allows us to feel pressure, vibration, and the position of our limbs.

Examples

  • Damage to certain brain regions can impair a person's somatosense of temperature and pain.

  • New research explores how the brain integrates information from the somatosense and other sensory systems.

  • The somatosense plays a crucial role in how we perceive the world.

  • Do you think the somatosense can be trained like other senses?

  • The somatosense enables us to detect changes in temperature and pressure on our skin.

  • Without a properly functioning somatosense, everyday tasks like holding objects can become difficult.

  • The body's somatosense is essential for maintaining balance and coordination during movement.

Synonyms

feeling
vssomatosense
580 1.0

A physical sensation you notice through touch or inside your body

restricts to particular senses that mediate touch, position, temperature, and pain
somatic sense
vssomatosense
  • Specialized
8.6

The ability to feel touch, pain, temperature, body position, and internal organs

refers to a specific bodily sense that mediates touch and position
somataesthesis
vssomatosense
  • Specialized
9.9

To feel touch, know where your body parts are, and notice feelings inside your body

is about a single bodily sense mediating touch, pressure, and pain
somatesthesia
vssomatosense
  • Specialized
9.9

The ability to feel touch, body position, and feelings inside the body

focuses on one bodily sense rather than the process of perception
somatic sensation
vssomatosense
  • Specialized
7.4

A feeling in your body that tells you about touch or where your arms and legs are

emphasizes an individual sense that mediates those specific sensations

Surface Forms

somatosense singular
somatosenses plural

Morphology

somatosense = sense (semi-transparent) = somato + sense

The combining form 'somato-' means 'body' but is not a standalone English word; learners familiar with medical terms (somatic, somatosensory) will see the meaning, otherwise the 'somato-' element may be unfamiliar.

Etymology

Somatosense combines the Greek root soma, which means 'body', and the English word sense, which means a feeling. So, somatosense is the body's system for feeling touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and the position of our limbs.