Seeing

We find our way around the world thanks to our eyes. That's why we trust this sense in particular. Furthermore, the colors that constantly surround us trigger different stimuli. Yellow makes us feel cheerful, green promotes relaxation, while red invigorates us. And if the winter blues are getting to you, the gloomy thoughts can be driven away through the eyes. Walks and light therapy with lamps can help. The retina transmits light impulses to the brain. This then releases the wake-up hormone serotonin.

Feeling

Although this sense develops in the womb, little attention has been paid to the sense of touch for many centuries. A pity, really. Because feeling, touching and stroking are very important for us humans. It reduces stress and can support recovery in the event of illness, as it has a positive effect on the immune system. Swedish researchers also found that touching reduces the transmission of pain signals to the brain.

Hearing

Listening to beautiful sounds shows how closely the sense of hearing is interwoven with bodily processes: blood pressure drops, the heart beats more slowly, breathing becomes calmer and inner tension is released. This works particularly well with Tomaso Albinoni's Adagio in G minor, Handel's Water Music and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Experts have now discovered that our favorite music affects the reward center in the brain. This releases a whole host of happiness hormones that flow through the body. Ideal: relax to your favorite music for at least 30 minutes a day, e.g. after work.

Smell

This is madness! According to a new US study, we perceive over a trillion scents! But our sense of smell doesn't just warn us of spoiled food. It also triggers emotions and awakens memories. Citrus scents are particularly popular as they have a mood-lifting effect. We think of our last vacation in the south, of summer and the sea... Researchers at the University of Bochum also made an astonishing discovery. They found that the skin also absorbs odors. If it comes into contact with the scent of sandalwood, wounds heal better.

Taste

Sweet, bitter, salty or sour? The taste buds on the tongue, the number of which decreases over the course of our lives, tell us immediately. The sense of taste is directly linked to the sense of smell. The great thing is that we can also imagine taste in our minds. If we think we are biting into a lemon, everything inside us contracts. This in turn activates the flow of saliva, which helps with dry mouth.