The “classic” five senses
Vision (sight)
How it works
Scientists often refer to sight and hearing as the “big” senses—the two we tend to pay attention to the most. From the moment our eyelids flicker open in the morning, different parts of our eyes are working together to help us see. Light passes through the cornea to the retina, where special receptor cells turn it into electric signals that travel from the optic nerve to the brain.
Why it matters
Our brains acquire about 80 percent of their information about the world around us by sight, and indeed, studies show that we believe sight to be our most valuable sense. Antioxidants like vitamin C, beta carotene (found in carrots), and zinc may help to protect our eyes as we age.
Auditory (hearing)
How it works
The sounds of your dog scratching at the door or a friend yelling hello from across the street originate as pressure waves in the air. Hair cells in the inner ear translate these waves into bioelectric signals, which the brain ultimately processes as sound.
Why it matters
Accurate hearing is important for our safety, as well as for professional performance, language development, and emotional well-being. Hearing loss is caused by hair cells being “trampled” by loud sounds until they cease to function and can be related to aging or exposure to noisy environments. While common, experiencing hearing loss or impairment can lead to anxiety, depression, and challenges at work and while socializing.
Hearing loss often unidentified
Hearing challenges often go unrecognized: a study that looked at hearing loss in Canada found that 8 percent of men and 5 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 79 self-reported hearing impairment, but when they were examined by researchers, 63 percent of men and 46 percent of women were found to have measurable hearing loss.
Tactile (touch)
How it works
We experience touch through specialized neurons that interpret and transmit information from the skin and other organs to the brain. This information is then perceived as sensations such as pressure, temperature, vibration, and pain.
Why it matters
While research on other senses has outpaced our understanding of touch, touch is fundamental to how we experience the world. It also keeps us safe from harm—telling us to drop that hot pan or avoid grabbing a bush’s thorns.
Gustatory (taste)
How it works
Our sense of taste is curated by taste buds that line our tongues and soft palates, transmitting information to our brains on whether what we’re tasting is sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or savoury (umami). These taste buds are complemented by nerve endings in our mouths and throats that relay information on whether the food we’re eating is hot or cold, or soft or hard.
Why it matters
Our sense of taste, combined with our sense of smell, helps protect us from foods that are rotten or poisonous. Changes to our sense of taste caused by factors like age, cigarette smoking, and respiratory infections (including COVID-19) can impact our dietary habits and reduce our quality of life.
Taste changes
Around age 50, you gradually start to lose taste buds and may notice a change in your sense of taste.
Olfactory (smell)
How it works
When you stop to smell the roses, the sweetness you perceive is the work of olfactory sensory neurons. These sensory cells are found in a small patch of tissue high inside the nose and connect directly to the brain.
Why it matters
Our sense of smell helps alert us to dangers like gas leaks, fires, or rotten food. Smell is deeply interlinked with memory and emotion due to the pathways by which it is interpreted in the brain. Our sense of taste is also closely related to our sense of smell, as chewing food releases aromas that our olfactory neurons pick up on.
Tandem senses
Your senses often work together to construct sensations that you don’t have receptors for. Our perception of flavour, for example, is constructed via information from our senses of smell and taste.
Our three “other” senses
Many sensory scientists believe that there are at least three more additions to our classical five. All three play a key role in how we sense ourselves and the world around us.
Proprioception
How it works
Proprioception allows us to perceive the location and movement of our body parts through information transmitted to the brain by specialized sense organs that are found in our muscles and tendons, in conjunction with other senses. Proprioception can be learned—like with riding a bike—or experienced automatically, like if you were to close your eyes and scratch your nose.
Why it matters
Poor proprioception can lead to falls, dizziness, and incoordination. Injuries and neurodegenerative conditions can affect your sense of proprioception, as can being intoxicated (temporarily). The risks of proprioception issues increase with age but can be treated through physical therapy.
Vestibular (balance)
How it works
Our vestibular system senses the orientation and acceleration of our head in different directions and adjusts our bodies accordingly. Most of the nerve signals in our vestibular system can be found in our inner ear, which is why ear problems can throw us off balance.
Why it matters
Our vestibular system allows us to maintain balance and to perceive where we are in space. Problems with our vestibular sense can lead to vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and changes to our sense of sight and hearing.
Interoception
How it works
Interoception is the sensing of internal sensations in our bodies. Feeling hungry, or too full, or that you need to go to the bathroom are products of interoception. This sense takes place on both conscious and unconscious levels and relies on complex interactions between the nervous system and body parts.
Why it matters
Interoception essentially works as our ability to listen to our bodies, at least for the signals that we’re consciously able to detect. Issues with interoception have been linked to anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, and addiction.
Listening to our bodies
Our bodies are an infinitely complex system that works tirelessly to keep us moving through the world. For people who may be impaired (for example, blind or deaf) in one sensory area, the body can compensate through enhanced capabilities in others.
Appreciating all eight senses reminds us to listen to what our bodies are telling us. One way to do this is by practising mindful breathing exercises or meditation, which can help us to better perceive our bodies’ signals. Paying attention to our heart rate, for example, may help to reduce anxiety. Take a second to slow down and tune in—your body will thank you.
Yoga for the senses
Yoga can be a useful tool for people who experience sensory issues—or just want to better listen to their bodies.
“Yoga teaches body and sensory integration through asanas (or poses), and self-regulation through pranayama (or breathwork exercises),” says Carine Young, a yoga instructor based in Richmond, BC.
Research demonstrates that yoga can also benefit children with autism and sensory issues, helping them to better self-regulate. Young has worked with young adults with autism and SPDs and says that the practice has greatly benefitted her clients. She says that using props like eye pillows can additionally help to enhance calm.
However, she notes that there is no one-size-fits-all yoga practice. “One person might find a pose calming, while another might be triggered by it,” says Young. For example, child’s pose can feel threatening to some clients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This article was originally published in the May 2025 issue of alive magazine.
