Who Says We Only Have 5 Senses?

You know what the traditional five senses are: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch.

So what sense is FBI Special Agent Carlos Gaspar using when, in Jack in the Green, we learn:

“It was his sixth sense that rankled.”
Jack in the Green

Night Vision

At the time, Gaspar is arriving at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base to hunt for Jack Reacher.

In this context, we assume the sixth sense must be something mental, or at least introspective. Traditionally, that’s what the sixth sense is. But scientists now believe our subconscious provides answers we need when we need them. The trick is to let our intuition guide us when our intellect doesn’t do the job. Works for me. How about you?

But did you know about the OTHER SENSES? Here are several more senses outside of the traditional five:

  • The kinesthetic sense: This tells the brain where one part of the body is in relation to another. It’s the sense that allows you to close your eyes and touch your nose.
  • Thermoception: Sensing heat, or the absence of it.
  • Chronoception: How the passage of time is perceived and experienced.
  • Balance: This works by analyzing acceleration and orientation.
  • Chemoreception: This part of the brain regulates hormones and communicates with the vomiting center (yes, there is such a thing..), and it picks up on salt levels, triggering thirst.
  • The cutaneous sense: The receptor in the skin that tells us when we’re blushing.

FBI Agents Carlos Gaspar and Kim Otto will need all their senses and all their wits along the Hunt for Jack Reacher. Keep up with the Hunt for Jack Reacher series to find out how they’re doing: CLICK HERE.

Meanwhile —

Caffeinate and Carry On!

Diane Capri

p.s. Are you a member of the Diane Capri’s Exclusive Reading Group mailing list? It’s FREE! Just CLICK HERE to sign up and refer your friends, too. You’ll be glad you did, I promise. Can’t wait to see you there!

 

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2 Responses to Who Says We Only Have 5 Senses?

  1. Sue Coletta August 14, 2014 at 5:44 pm #

    Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

    • Diane August 17, 2014 at 12:18 am #

      My pleasure. Thanks for reading!

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