Today, humans possess five senses. However, a study conducted by British researchers suggests this could evolve further. According to these scientists, two additional senses might be missing in order to optimize the brain’s memory capabilities.
A sensory configuration that may not be final
Human presence on Earth dates back more than two million years. Over time, evolution has shaped five senses that allow humans to interact with their surroundings: taste, smell, hearing, touch, and of course sight. At King’s College London (UK), a team of researchers recently estimated that this state may not be final. In the future, humans might perhaps develop additional senses, as indicated by a publication in the journal Scientific Reports on August 15, 2026.
The starting premise of the study’s authors is that the current human senses do not represent a definitive endpoint in evolution. When looking at many other animal species living on Earth, the idea isn’t so far-fetched. Some species can perceive wavelengths invisible to humans, others can sense the Earth’s magnetic field, etc. Thus, the researchers sought to answer the following questions: Do the five human senses constitute a truly final, optimal configuration? Is an improvement (or evolution) of this setup possible?
To gain clarity, the authors focused on the sensory inputs related to memory and learning. One element, however, particularly captured their attention: engrams. These are neural networks located in different regions of the brain, whose role is – when activated together – to form memories. It should be noted that every object we remember is linked to data pertaining to our five senses. Take, for example, an orange, with its distinctive color, its smell, its texture, its taste, and even the sound we hear when we peel it.
Towards learning capacities multiplied?
Scientists suggest that, considering the potential to maximize the conceptual space available in memory, the ideal number of sensory inputs would be seven rather than five. With two extra senses, the human brain could store and organize more engrams, and thus learn more efficiently. This does not mean that humans possess hidden senses, although some abilities can be described as “quasi-senses”. Take proprioception, often labeled the “silent sixth sense,” which is the sense of the body’s position in space.
In reality, the study’s authors remain fairly cautious in their statements since this is theoretical. However, they seem convinced that in a future, more or less distant, humans may be capable of developing novel abilities that could be regarded as fully fledged senses.
Beyond human evolution, such work could prove valuable in advancing artificial intelligence. It could also impact neuromorphic computing, whose aim is to replicate brain function through the creation of artificial neurons. One day, researchers may base themselves on this new principle of seven sensory inputs to attempt to develop more efficient learning systems.
