Researchers at the NIH report that the PIEZO2 gene controls specific aspects of human touch and proprioception, a “sixth sense” describing awareness of one's body in space. Mutations in the gene ...

With the help of two young patients with a unique neurological disorder, scientists have discovered that a gene called PIEZO2 controls specific aspects of human touch and proprioception, a "sixth ...

A rare genetic disorder is helping scientists understand our mysterious ability to sense where we are in space, known as proprioception. This "sixth sense" is what dancers and gymnasts rely on to tell ...

Here’s a challenge: Close your eyes and then try touching your nose with your finger. Did you do it? Even without using any of the five famous senses—sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell—you most ...

Every time we feel a gentle tap on the skin, specialized nerve cells convert that physical force into an electrical signal that the brain can interpret as touch. While scientists have long known that ...

PIEZO2 (cyan), filamin-B (magenta), and the neuronal marker neurofilament heavy chain (green) in touch-sensing nerve endings around a hair follicle. LA JOLLA, CA—Every time we feel a gentle tap on the ...

The Piezo2 protein senses changes in lung volume, acting in different neurons to convey this information to the brain. This finding adds to the list of roles for Piezo2 in mechanosensation. See ...