proprioception

noun·/ˌproʊ.pri.oʊˈsɛp.ʃən/

The body's sense of itself in space. The unconscious awareness of limb position, movement, and balance that lets you touch your nose with eyes closed or walk without watching your feet. Proprioception is inward, perception of the self by the self.

In the dark she reached for the banister, trusting proprioception to place her hand where memory said wood would be.

Etymology

Built from Latin proprius "one's own" + perception. A name for a subtle faculty long taken for granted: the body not only moved but quietly known.

Related Words

kinesthesiasense of movement; often overlapping
vestibularbalance system; a key contributor
sensorimotorthe loop between sensing and acting
somaticof the body; the broader domain