Accessibility links
The Neurobiology Of Our Senses : Short Wave You're likely familiar with touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing - but there are actually more than five senses. Emily Kwong speaks to neurobiologist André White, assistant professor at Mount Holyoke College, about the beautiful, intricate system that carries information from the outside world in. (ENCORE)

Short Wave

How Many Senses Do We Really Have?

By 

, 

Madeline K. Sofia

, 

How Many Senses Do We Really Have?

Listen · 11:18
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1077363996/1200394363" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Enlarge this image

People take a moment to enjoy the public art installation of illuminated seesaws unveiled by Garment District Alliance along Broadway on January 30, 2020 in New York City. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

People take a moment to enjoy the public art installation of illuminated seesaws unveiled by Garment District Alliance along Broadway on January 30, 2020 in New York City.

David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

You're likely familiar with touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing - but there are actually more than five senses.

Emily Kwong speaks to neurobiologist André White, assistant professor at Mount Holyoke College, about the beautiful, intricate system that carries information from the outside world in.

They talk about what a sense is, describe the neurobiological mechanisms that make sensing possible, and delve into the importance of a sixth sense that makes flashlight tag possible. (ENCORE)

To learn about André's research, visit Mount Holyoke's website and Black in Neuro. Contact the podcast at shortwave@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Berly McCoy and Rebecca Ramirez, edited by Gisele Grayson, and fact checked by Rasha Aridi and Ariela Zebede. Alex Drewenskus was the audio engineer.e