🎨 Experiencing the world in vivid and powerful ways.
What is it?
Sensory awareness is the brain’s ability to receive, process, and predict information from both the outside world and within the body. While most people know about the five main senses—touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing—humans actually have nine! These include:
Nociception (sense of pain)
Proprioception (sense of body position and balance)
Interoception (awareness of internal bodily signals)
Thermoception (sense of temperature)
People with heightened sensory awareness often notice subtleties that others miss—whether in colors, sounds, textures, or even the emotions of those around them.
Why do many neurodivergent brains have sensory strengths?
Many neurodivergent individuals experience sensory input differently due to unique brain structures and chemistry. Some brains are extra sensitive, quickly processing sensory details and responding strongly to them. Others may be less sensitive, needing more intense or varied input to feel comfortable and regulated.
These differences shape how neurodivergent people experience the world and can give rise to exceptional skills in areas requiring attention to detail, pattern recognition, and creative interpretation.
How can sensory strengths be used in work & life?
Heightened sensory perception is often the foundation of great artistry—many of history’s most brilliant musicians, designers, and creators likely had extraordinary sensory awareness.
But it’s not just for artists! This strength can enhance problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and precision in fields like science, engineering, design, and even security work.
🔹 “My extra pattern recognition helps me spot outcomes before they even happen. I see the threat before anyone else does.” — Kartini Clarke, Young Neurodiversity Champion
Want to Learn More?
📖 Read: The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron
🎥 Watch: Lisa Feldman Barrett’s ‘Your Brain Predicts Everything’ to explore how sensory input shapes perception and decision-making.