28.2.07

22 senses

The notion of five senses is both overly simple and untrue.  The human body actually possesses the ability to sense at least twenty-two distinct impressions.  We can categorize these into five groups according to the nature of that which is being sensed.

electromagentic waves
COLOR
BRIGHTNESS
HEAT or infrared waves
POSITION within electrical/magnetic fields, as birds use for migration, and platypus and cows sense proximity of electric lines

molecular vibrations
SOUND through ears and through body
RAYLEIGH WAVES seismic waves through Pancinian corpuscle

chemical compounds
SMELL
PHEROMONES chemicals emitted by an organism that indicate levels of agressiveness, alarm, and attraction
SWEET taste sugars
SALT taste minerals
SOUR taste acids
BITTER taste danger
UMAMI taste amino acid glutamate

contact
PRESSURE with ability to distinguish between brushing and sustained touch

body awareness
DEPTH when the brain compares data from two eyes
BODY TEMPERATURE is sensed and regulated somatically
PAIN ON SKIN "cutaneous pain"
PAIN AT JOINTS AND BONES "somatic pain"
PAIN IN INNER ORGANS "visceral pain"
BALANCE
BODY AWARENESS or proprioception, that is, you know where your arm is, weaving in the air, out in front of you, even when your eyes are closed and ears muffled

in no category can we place the ability one has, while in the dark, to sense one's lover's lips