How your brain know when to breathe? Nobel-winning neuroscientist to map human’s ‘hidden sixth sense’ linking brain and body

A team of scientists from Scripps Research and the Allen Institute, led by Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Ardem Patapoutian, has received a $14.2 million NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award to map the brain’s “hidden sixth sense.” Reported by scitechdaily the project will create the first comprehensive atlas of interoceptive neurons, the specialized cells that constantly monitor internal organs, including the heart, lungs, stomach, and kidneys, to regulate essential functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and immune responses.

Unlike the classic five senses, interoception operates largely unconsciously, helping the body maintain balance and respond to changes without conscious thought. Joining Patapoutian in the initiative are leading researchers Li Ye, Bosiljka Tasic, and Xin Jin, who will focus on identifying different neuron types and tracing their connections to organs throughout the body.

How the study will work

The research will combine whole-body imaging with genetic profiling:

• Mapping neuronal connections: Researchers will label sensory neurons and trace their paths from the spinal cord to organs, producing a high-resolution 3D map.
  
  
• Identifying neuron types: Genetic profiling will distinguish neurons that carry signals from different organs, such as the gut, bladder, or fat tissue.
  

These datasets will create the first standardized reference for understanding interoception and the neural wiring that connects the brain and body.

What scientists hope to find

By combining high-resolution imaging with genetic profiling, the team will try to produce an unprecedented map of the neural pathways that link the brain and body. Scientists hope the findings will shed light on how disruptions in interoceptive signals contribute to conditions such as chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, and high blood pressure, potentially opening new avenues for treatment.

What is interoception?

Interoception is the brain’s ability to sense and monitor the internal state of the body. It involves a network of specialized neurons that detect signals from organs like the heart, lungs, stomach, and kidneys, helping regulate vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, digestion, and immune responses.

Unlike the classic five senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell), interoception operates largely unconsciously, allowing the body to maintain balance and respond to internal changes without conscious effort. Scientists often call it the body’s “hidden sixth sense.”

How interoception affects your body

Interoception plays a crucial role in health, yet it remains poorly understood. Disruptions in interoception have been linked to conditions like chronic pain, high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, making it an important focus for medical research.