Decoding the Body’s Hidden Sixth Sense: $14.2M Research Begins
What Is the “Hidden Sixth Sense”?
Researchers call this hidden sense interoception—the way our nervous system monitors internal organs. It detects signals about breathing, digestion, and heart rate. In short, it keeps many body systems in sync.
Unlike sight or hearing, interoception occurs inside us. It often works without our conscious awareness. Yet it plays a key role in health and disease.
New $14.2 Million Initiative
A team from Scripps Research and the Allen Institute won funding to map interoception. They will receive $14.2 million over five years for the project. They aim to build a full atlas of these internal sensory pathways.
Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian leads this effort. He works with Li Ye and Bosiljka Tasic. Meanwhile, Xin Jin handles the genetic profiling side.
What the Researchers Will Do
First, the team will trace nerves from the spinal cord into organs. They will use whole-body imaging to map connections. In addition, they will classify neuron types by molecular profile.
They also want to differentiate neurons linked to the gut, heart, bladder, and more. Therefore, they hope to see how each internal signal travels. In doing so, they expect to define how the whole system works.
Why This Matters
Interoception is vital for health. When it misfires, people may suffer chronic pain, high blood pressure, or autoimmune issues. Mapping this system could point to new treatments.
In addition, doctors may learn to repair these internal pathways. As a result, they could restore body balance in disease. This project promises to open a new frontier in medicine.
