Humans May Have 22–33 Senses, Not Just Five

New research and expert discourse suggest that human perception rests on 22–33 senses, far beyond the classic five. Proprioception, interoception, vestibular balance, sense of agency, and sense of ownership are part of a distributed, multisensory system that blends touch, taste, smell, and sight to create flavor, texture, and self-awareness. Everyday experiences—such as odors altering taste or sounds changing perceived texture—reflect this interconnectedness. Work at the Centre for the Study of the Senses and Crossmodal Laboratory in Oxford, alongside exhibitions like Senses Unwrapped, illustrate how our senses continually negotiate a single, coherent reality.