diff --git a/connexion/decorators/parameter.py b/connexion/decorators/parameter.py
index 21e020294..6515ad2b0 100644
--- a/connexion/decorators/parameter.py
+++ b/connexion/decorators/parameter.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def get_function_arguments(function):  # pragma: no cover
         return inspect.getargspec(function).args
 
 
-def parameter_to_arg(body_schema, parameters, function):
+def parameter_to_arg(parameters, function):
     """
     Pass query and body parameters as keyword arguments to handler function.
 
@@ -37,9 +37,8 @@ def parameter_to_arg(body_schema, parameters, function):
     :type body_schema: dict|None
     :type parameters: dict|None
     """
-    body_schema = body_schema or {}  # type: dict
-    body_properties = body_schema.get('properties', {})
-    body_types = {name: properties['type'] for name, properties in body_properties.items()}  # type: dict[str, str]
+    body_parameters = [parameter for parameter in parameters if parameter['in'] == 'body'] or [{}]
+    body_name = body_parameters[0].get('name')
     query_types = {parameter['name']: parameter['type']
                    for parameter in parameters if parameter['in'] == 'query'}  # type: dict[str, str]
     arguments = get_function_arguments(function)
@@ -49,20 +48,17 @@ def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
         logger.debug('Function Arguments: %s', arguments)
 
         try:
-            body_parameters = flask.request.json or {}  # type: dict
+            request_body = flask.request.json
         except exceptions.BadRequest:
-            body_parameters = {}
+            request_body = None
 
         # Add body parameters
-        for key, value in body_parameters.items():
-            if key not in arguments:
-                logger.debug("Body parameter '%s' not in function arguments", key)
+        if request_body is not None:
+            if body_name not in arguments:
+                logger.debug("Body parameter '%s' not in function arguments", body_name)
             else:
-                logger.debug("Body parameter '%s' in function arguments", key)
-                key_type = body_types[key]
-                logger.debug('%s is a %s', key, key_type)
-                type_func = TYPE_MAP[key_type]  # convert value to right type
-                kwargs[key] = type_func(value)
+                logger.debug("Body parameter '%s' in function arguments", body_name)
+                kwargs[body_name] = request_body
 
         # Add query parameters
         for key, value in flask.request.args.items():
diff --git a/connexion/decorators/validation.py b/connexion/decorators/validation.py
index f45d69314..5e674a357 100644
--- a/connexion/decorators/validation.py
+++ b/connexion/decorators/validation.py
@@ -240,7 +240,6 @@ def validate_path_parameter(self, args, param):
 
     def validate_header_parameter(self, param):
         val = flask.request.headers.get(param['name'])
-        print(val, param)
         return self.validate_parameter('header', val, param)
 
     def __call__(self, function):
diff --git a/connexion/operation.py b/connexion/operation.py
index 3f4821b98..745bc0fc6 100644
--- a/connexion/operation.py
+++ b/connexion/operation.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 import functools
 import logging
 import os
-
 from .decorators.parameter import parameter_to_arg
 from .decorators.produces import BaseSerializer, Produces, Jsonifier
 from .decorators.security import security_passthrough, verify_oauth
@@ -143,7 +142,15 @@ def function(self):
         :rtype: types.FunctionType
         """
 
-        function = parameter_to_arg(self.body_schema, self.parameters, self.__undecorated_function)
+        parameters = []
+        for param in self.parameters:  # resolve references
+            param = param.copy()
+            schema = param.get('schema')
+            if schema:
+                schema = self.resolve_reference(schema)
+            param['schema'] = schema
+            parameters.append(param)
+        function = parameter_to_arg(parameters, self.__undecorated_function)
 
         produces_decorator = self.__content_type_decorator
         logger.debug('... Adding produces decorator (%r)', produces_decorator, extra=vars(self))
diff --git a/tests/fakeapi/api.yaml b/tests/fakeapi/api.yaml
index 77daccf82..bc41e6555 100644
--- a/tests/fakeapi/api.yaml
+++ b/tests/fakeapi/api.yaml
@@ -293,6 +293,36 @@ paths:
           in: query
           type: number
           required: true
+  /schema_array:
+    get:
+      tags:
+      description: test schema array
+      operationId: fakeapi.hello.test_schema_array
+      parameters:
+        - name: test_array
+          in: body
+          required: true
+          schema:
+            type: array
+            items:
+              type: string
+      responses:
+        200:
+          description: OK
+  /schema_int:
+    get:
+      tags:
+      description: test schema int
+      operationId: fakeapi.hello.test_schema_int
+      parameters:
+        - name: test_int
+          in: body
+          required: true
+          schema:
+            type: integer
+      responses:
+        200:
+          description: OK
 definitions:
   new_stack:
     type: object
diff --git a/tests/fakeapi/hello.py b/tests/fakeapi/hello.py
index c7cc47808..6c2f7b8c7 100755
--- a/tests/fakeapi/hello.py
+++ b/tests/fakeapi/hello.py
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ def empty():
     return None, 204
 
 
-def schema(image_version):
-    return {'image_version': image_version}
+def schema(new_stack):
+    return new_stack
 
 
 def schema_query(image_version=None):
@@ -78,3 +78,11 @@ def test_parameter_validation():
 
 def test_required_query_param():
     return ''
+
+
+def test_schema_array(test_array):
+    return test_array
+
+
+def test_schema_int(test_int):
+    return test_int
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index 7cfd703ef..ec467079d 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 import requests
 import logging
 import _pytest.monkeypatch
-
 from connexion.app import App
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
@@ -385,3 +384,27 @@ def test_required_query_param(app):
 
     response = app_client.get(url, query_string={'n': '1.23'})
     assert response.status_code == 200
+
+
+def test_test_schema_array(app):
+    app_client = app.app.test_client()
+    headers = {'Content-type': 'application/json'}
+
+    array_request = app_client.get('/v1.0/schema_array', headers=headers,
+                                   data=json.dumps(['list', 'hello']))  # type: flask.Response
+    assert array_request.status_code == 200
+    assert array_request.content_type == 'application/json'
+    array_response = json.loads(array_request.data.decode())  # type: list
+    assert array_response == ['list', 'hello']
+
+
+def test_test_schema_int(app):
+    app_client = app.app.test_client()
+    headers = {'Content-type': 'application/json'}
+
+    array_request = app_client.get('/v1.0/schema_int', headers=headers,
+                                   data=json.dumps(42))  # type: flask.Response
+    assert array_request.status_code == 200
+    assert array_request.content_type == 'application/json'
+    array_response = json.loads(array_request.data.decode())  # type: list
+    assert array_response == 42
diff --git a/tests/test_operation.py b/tests/test_operation.py
index f046dce12..915322831 100644
--- a/tests/test_operation.py
+++ b/tests/test_operation.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import pathlib
 import pytest
 import types
-
 from connexion.exceptions import InvalidSpecification
 from connexion.operation import Operation
 from connexion.decorators.security import security_passthrough, verify_oauth