Which set of senses contributes to postural control?

• A. Auditory, olfactory, gustatory
• B. Vestibular, visual, somatosensory (proprioception)
• C. Gustatory, visual, proprioception
• D. Proprioception, temperature, pain

Answer: (B)

Postural control relies on integrating information about head motion and orientation, body position, and the surrounding environment. The vestibular system provides data on head position and movement relative to gravity, vision offers a stable reference frame and cues about sway in the environment, and somatosensory input (including proprioception from muscles and joints and pressure under the feet) reports where the limbs are and how they’re contacting the ground. When these signals are combined, the nervous system can generate the appropriate corrective actions to keep the center of mass over the base of support.

Other senses like taste, smell, or even temperature and pain don’t give direct information about body position or ground contact, so they aren’t primary contributors to maintaining posture.