Paper Summary:

This paper examines how humans possess the fives senses of sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste, and how evidence shows that there may be a sixth sense that we are not conscious of, but leads us to react to our environment in specific ways. It looks at how chemicals that act as signals among members of the same species are known as pheromones. It provides a critical summary, through a literature review, of the state of existing knowledge about pheromones and points out what has been studied to date, how adequate and dependable those studies are, and various gaps that exist in the body of research regarding pheromones.

Outline
An Overview of Pheromones
Review of Findings on Pheromones
Critique of Extant Research and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is an aspect of the olfactory system that is found in most mammals during their embryonic stages. It is located above the hard palate on both sides of the nasal septum and consists of a pair of blind-ended tubes opening into the nasal cavity. The epithelial receptor cells lack cilia, and their axons branch out to an accessory olfactory bulb that projects into the limbic system. Basically, the VNO represents an accessory of the olfactory system that translates olfactory signals into neuroendocrine responses. Scientists used to believe that it only existed in lower mammals and in primates during the embryonic stage. Recent findings have shown, however, that it also exists in adult humans."

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