Final answer:
Pheromones are chemical signals released by animals that affect the behavior of animals of the same species. While they have profound effects on nonhuman species, their role in human behavior is still controversial and under research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pheromones are chemical signals released by animals that affect the behavior of animals of the same species. While pheromones can have profound effects on animals, they are not consciously perceived in the same way as other odors. Pheromones play important roles in attracting mates, repelling potential competitors, and influencing mother-infant attachment in nonhuman species.
However, in the case of humans, pheromones have become less important in behavior over evolutionary time compared to organisms with more limited behavioral repertoires. While some studies suggest that certain pheromones called axillary steroids can influence human perception and behavior, the role of pheromones in human-to-human communication is still controversial and continues to be researched.