If you think humans have five senses, you’re wrong

Human senses allow us to perceive things around us, detected by stimuli. It is the process of gathering and sending information to the brain for understanding. Our senses allow us to experience things like listening to music or smelling an aromatic fragrance.

It is commonly believed that humans have five primary senses: touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste. First classified by Aristotle as the sensory organs of skin, eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, the idea was universally accepted. However, these are not the only senses that humans have.

Do humans have more than 5 senses?

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Traditionally, only five human senses were accepted. But today it is considered that humans have some more senses other than the basic five ones.

Neuroscientists believe humans can sense much more than the five senses taught in school. While the exact number of senses remains a debate, there can be 9, 21, or more senses depending on how you perceive and define them.

The 9 human senses

Apart from the five senses, the other four senses that humans have can be defined as:

Equilibrioception (Balance)

Humans can balance and coordinate themselves which is controlled by the vestibular system. It is located in the inner ear and helps walk, stand, and sit upright. When it is disturbed, it causes dizziness and nausea.

Nociception (Pain)

Nociception is our body's awareness of pain. This sense protects us by triggering the pain receptors, nociceptors, and making us known of the danger to keep us safe.

Thermoception (Temperature)

Thermoception is the body's perception of the temperature of the surrounding environment. If we bring our hands close to a stove, we can feel it is hot. This sense keeps us aware of our surroundings and helps protect ourselves from getting injured.

Proprioception (Body awareness)

Proprioception or kinesthesia is awareness of our body's movement, actions, and position. Our body can sense these using the receptors in muscles, joints and tendons. This sense allows us to climb stairs without looking below.

The 21 human senses

Another theory on human senses suggests there are 21 senses in total.

The 21 senses include interoception, which is the brain's awareness of our body's internal state. It sends signals to the brain from internal organs to make the brain aware of our well-being.

This sense allows us to understand our inner state through heart rate, hunger, thirst, lung inflation, and others. It can play a significant role in regulating emotions and affect our mental health.

There can also be more senses beyond 21, depending on how you classify them. For example, taste can be defined as one sense or five as salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savoury.

(With inputs from agencies)