Science has proven: humans have not 5, but up to 33 senses.

According to ТСН: Researchers are analyzing new approaches to understanding how humans perceive the surrounding world. Modern scientific data suggests that we may have not just five but significantly more senses – from 22 to 33.

Scientists emphasize that much of our experience is multisensory. Our brain does not process visual, auditory, or tactile information separately: all these signals arrive simultaneously and combine in overall perception. For example, smells can influence how we perceive the texture of objects, and visual images can alter our perception of sounds.

“Neurologists are increasingly talking not about 'five senses', but about a whole network of sensory systems.”

Among these systems is proprioception – the ability to sense the position of one’s own body and limbs without visual assistance. The sensation of balance is formed thanks to the vestibular system combined with vision and proprioception. Another important system is interoception, which allows us to sense internal processes of the body, such as changes in heart rate, hunger, or tension.

Scientists focus on the sensations of voluntary control and body ownership. In patients who have suffered a stroke, these mechanisms may be disrupted: a person might feel touch in a limb but consider it “alien”, or feel that movements are not executed by themselves.

Traditional senses turn out to be more complex than we seem to think. For instance, touch encompasses not only contact with the skin but also pain, temperature, itch, and pressure. Taste results from a combination of signals from the tongue's receptors, smell, and touch. That's why the taste sensations of fruits cannot be reduced to a simple combination of sweet, sour, or bitter.

Smells reach our nose not only during inhalation but also through the pharynx when chewing or swallowing food. Touch also plays a role in forming preferences regarding the texture of foods – liquid or solid.

Vision is influenced by other sensory systems as well. For example, during takeoff, it may seem that the shape of space is changing, although optical conditions remain unchanged. This occurs due to the combination of visual signals and the functioning of the vestibular apparatus.

Interdisciplinary research on sensory organs is conducted by philosophers, neurobiologists, and psychologists. In the framework of the project “Reconceptualizing the Senses”, it was discovered that changing the sound of footsteps can affect the sensation of body weight, and specific features of audio guides in museums help visitors better remember visual details.

Research has also shown that the noise of airplanes can change taste perception: sweet, salty, and sour tastes are sensed weaker, while umami remains unchanged. This may explain the popularity of tomato juice during flights.

Scientists conclude: the senses of humans are not just a set of separate “channels”, but a complex system that constantly interacts.

These discoveries confirm that our perception of the world is much deeper and more complex than we previously thought. Understanding multisensory perception opens new horizons for research in psychology, neurology, and even in the treatment practices of patients with nervous system injuries. They may change our notions about sensations and their place in human life.