# Is "Balance" a sixth sense ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2002, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-balance-a-sixth-sense/145822 "2002-12-31T05:09:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-balance-a-sixth-sense/145822/21 "2003-01-01T06:05:10Z")
Skin receptors include heat sensors as well as propiceptors for balance. Both of these might be considered senses. Balance comes from vision, proprioception and the otovestibular thingies. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-balance-a-sixth-sense/145822/22 "2003-01-01T09:09:10Z")
There was a similar question a while ago, and someone posted a link to some scientist’s page that had a whole list of senses that he considered additional to the 5 basic ones. Included was balance, something to do with sensing electricity, and a while slew of others - each with a fancy name. I’d search the archives for it, but I don’t have a clue what to look under as it was somewhat obscure IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-balance-a-sixth-sense/145822/23 "2003-01-01T17:38:09Z")
I just wanted to pop back in and say “Thanks” to those that addressed my question. My regards to the OP, I hope it helped further the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-balance-a-sixth-sense/145822/24 "2003-01-02T11:33:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > Couldn’t a blind person navigate that tube? Is it easier with eyes shut? The fact that people who have no vision whatsoever are capable of walking upright or running proves that balance does not require vision to operate. However, just as smell and taste are related and play off each other, vision and balance are connected in the normal human being. And while people on artificial limbs are capable of balancing and walking, the sense of touch in a flesh-and-blood foot provides the brain with additional information that assists in walking. Hearing and touch are also connected, since sound is vibration. Thus, people who are deaf may still be aware of some sounds, particularly very low ones or loud ones that induce vibration in the bones and body cavities such as lungs. The balance mechanism in the ears - the vestibular cannals - is not perfect and can be fooled. Having vision as a back-up to it can be very helpful and I’m not surprised evolution came up with this. Heck, for all I know balance using visual reference came first and the vestibular canals evolved later. How do fish keep their balance? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-balance-a-sixth-sense/145822/25 "2003-01-02T15:09:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Have you ever tried to eat something while holding on to your nose? I kow i can’t taste a thing. But we still have taste as a distinct sense. Whats stopping us from saying that balance is like taste, that it needs other senses for it to work properly. Like sight and touch. Fair point. I withdraw the comment. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-balance-a-sixth-sense/145822/26 "2003-01-02T17:49:34Z")
Isn’t your inner ear a liquid-filled tube that uses pressure sensors to detect where the liquid is pooling? If that’s the case, then I’d say that your inner ear uses a highly specialized form of touch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-balance-a-sixth-sense/145822.md?page=1)