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Vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch: these are the five major senses humans are accustomed to. Our understanding of the world has been shaped by the information we are accessing with these senses. But while these are the only senses humans perceive consciously, they are not the only senses that we have. For example, the semicircular canals of the inner ear contribute to our sense of balance. Similarly, we know when our legs are stretched out or flexed because receptors inform about stretch and load on our muscle fibers and tendons. (See “Proprioception: The Sense Within.”) We also receive sensory feedback on the filling of our bladders and stomachs. Such internal senses are essential for daily life, and we are rarely aware of them as ...
