Answer to Question #297271 in Psychology for Blessing

Question

1. Do you think that there may be senses which do not necessarily receive information only from the environment, but rather from within us as well? (For example, how do you sense that you are hungry? If you hold your breath, which sense ‘senses’ that you need air? How do you sense the need for belonging?)
2. If you think that we may have more senses than the 5 noted above, would you provide your opinion on why you think the dominant scientific community may not have considered more than the typical 5 senses? If you wish, you may use other references to strengthen or support your discussion.
3. How does a “definition” (for example, how we define the 5 senses) help or hinder us in knowing the parameters of a concept, think about a concept’s potential for expansion, or keep a concept within known boundaries?

• Do you think that the definition of sensation needs to be expanded? Why? 

Answer 1

There are additional senses, according to livescience, and one of them is called proprioception. This sense deals with the brain and how it understands our bodies' demands, but "proprioception encompasses the sense of movement and position of our limbs and muscles." This sense allows us to touch the very tip of our nose with our hands/fingertips. With our eyes closed, we can accomplish this.

The National Institutes of Health conducted a study (NIH). People with poor proprioception, in particular through mechanosensation, were discovered to have poor proprioception in this study. I believe we may have inactive senses that we are unaware of, and the reason I believe this is because, according to Philip Perry in May 2019, we may have between 14 and 20 of them.

To be honest, I believe we should stick with the five main senses; expanding it would be confusing to all of us; however, learning all of our senses could help us cope with life in a more advanced age (such as the technological future that is upon us as we write this); we could have more than just over 14-20 senses when we are more technologically advanced. Although it would be nice to read other people's minds, I believe we should remain with the five main senses we have today because they are for life.