7 curious facts about the senses

The first of the curious facts about the senses is that These are, basically, our contact with the world. These are complex functions, associated with organs of the body that have a direct connection with the brain.

In reality, the human being is one of the animals least equipped in terms of senses.. There are many species that surpass us in sight, hearing, smell and touch. However, humans have what it takes to survive with these limitations.

What the senses capture about the world is only in our minds. It is clear that there is an external reality, but from it we can only capture what the senses allow. We even do it loosely: can you define what red is? Let’s see other curious facts about the senses.

1. Limitations, one of the curious facts about the senses

The first of the curious facts about the senses is that they actually We do not perceive the world as it is, but as those faculties and its organs allow us to do so.. There are many aspects of reality that we will never truly experience.

For example, the eye cannot capture X-rays or ultraviolet rays. However, they exist and can actually harm us. Nor is the ear capable of perceiving all sounds; That is why humpback whales talk and a normal human is not aware of it.

2. Curiosities of the sense of sight

There are several curious facts about the senses that have to do with sight. Let’s start by saying that Each eye, or rather each eyeball, weighs about 28 grams.. They are full of water.

An eye has about 130 million photosensitive cells; They are all said to fit in an area similar to that of a postage stamp. The view perceives around 10 million colors and the eye blinks between 10 and 24 times per minute. The average living person blinks approximately 415 million times.

3. Curiosities of the sense of smell

Several curious facts about the senses are also concentrated in smell. There are about 10 million olfactory receptors in each nostril. Only 1,000 of them have specialized in capturing bad odors.

Women have a more developed sense of smell than men., and this sense is most acute in all people during childhood. If you get a cold, you may temporarily lose your sense of smell. However, some people never get it back.

4. Curiosities of the sense of taste

Flavors are perceived through the taste buds that are on the tongue and part of the palate and esophagus. We have between 8,000 and 10,000 of these papillae. However, the sense of taste cannot function if the sense of smell is not active.

For example, salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and spicy are processed through nerves at the base of the papillae. There is another flavor: umami. This is captured by receptors sensitive to amino acids.. We have two eyes, two nostrils, two ears and one tongue. There must be a reason.

5. Curiosities of the sense of touch

It can be said that touch is the king of the senses because it covers the entire body and its organ is the skin.. We have 16,000 receptors for heat, 150,000 for cold, 500,000 for pressure and 4 million for pain.

There are areas of the body that are more sensitive than others: hands, lips, face, neck, tongue, fingers and feet. Fingers are ultrasensitive: they detect the movement of an object that moves one thousandth of a millimeter. The least sensitive skin area is the middle of the back.

6. Curiosities of the sense of hearing

One of the curious facts about the senses is that the ear is probably the most sensitive of all.. They pick up sounds that are one ten millionth of a second away. They know how to distinguish between 1,500 different tones. It is also the last sense that is lost, before dying.

The ear never rests. When sleeping, the brain inhibits the ability to capture sounds, but if there is a loud noise, we will surely wake up. Among the sounds that most bother and irritate human beings are the crying of a baby, the retching of a person while vomiting, the friction of a knife against glass and an electric drill.

7. More senses?

Typically we talk about five senses, however, we have at least four others and they do not include a sense of humor or common sense. The sixth would be the sense of movementwhich allows you to perceive acceleration and maintains balance.

There are also these other senses:

Proprioception. This sense allows us to identify the position of the different parts of the body. It also affects balance and coordination.Thermoception. In humans it allows us to feel heat and cold; It also helps other animals know the direction of the wind.Nociception. Allows you to perceive pain.

These are just some of the curiosities about the senses. These faculties and the organs that carry them are a marvel of evolution. True reality capture machines.

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