Human Body Scents: Conscious Perceptions and Biological Effects

McClintock, Martha K.; Bullivant, Susan; Jacob, Suma; Spencer, Natasha; Zelano, Bethanne; Ober, Carole

doi:10.1093/chemse/bjh151

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Not only have body odor signals been shown to convey messages about genetic relatedness, mating fitness and general health [1], [2], but body odors produced from individuals in specific emotional states have been shown to modify both the neural and behavioral states of the receiver, whether or not they are consciously aware of the source or nature of the body odor [3]–[6]. In studies designed to explore the functional implications of emotional chemosignals, it has been shown that smelling sweat produced from stressed individuals potentiates the human startle reflex [7], improves the discrimination of fearful [8] and angry [6] faces, elicits empathy [9] and enhances vigilance and attention [7], [10]–[12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemosignals of Stress Influence Social Judgments

et al. 2013

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Human body odors have important communicative functions regarding genetic identity, immune fitness and general health, but an expanding body of research suggests they can also communicate information about an individual’s emotional state. In the current study, we tested whether axillary odors obtained from women experiencing psychosocial stress could negatively influence personality judgments of warmth and competence made about other women depicted in video scenarios. 44 female donors provided three types of sweat samples: untreated exercise sweat, untreated stress sweat and treated stress sweat. After a ‘washout’ period, a commercial unscented anti-perspirant product was applied to the left axilla only to evaluate whether ‘blocking’ the stress signal would improve the social evaluations. A separate group of male and female evaluators (n = 120) rated the women in the videos while smelling one of the three types of sweat samples. Women in the video scenes were rated as being more stressed by both men and women when smelling the untreated vs. treated stress sweat. For men only, the women in the videos were rated as less confident, trustworthy and competent when smelling both the untreated stress and exercise sweat in contrast to the treated stress sweat. Women’s social judgments were unaffected by sniffing the pads. The results have implications for influencing multiple types of professional and personal social interactions and impression management and extend our understanding of the social communicative function of body odors.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemosignals of Stress Influence Social Judgments

et al. 2013

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“…Whilst pheromone effects in animals are well recognized, it is controversial whether they exist also in humans. Several psychophysical studies indicate that a progesterone derivative, 4,16-androstadien-3-one (AND) is capable of affecting mood, arousal, heart rate, as well as cortisol levels [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]. Furthermore, recent brain imaging studies show that smelling of AND, as well as of an estrogen like compound, estra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraen-3-ol (EST), trigger cerebral activations suggestive of pheromone signaling [8], [9], [10], [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androstenol – a Steroid Derived Odor Activates the Hypothalamus in Women

Savić

Berglund

2010

PLoS ONE

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BackgroundWhether pheromone signaling exists in humans is still a matter of intense discussion. In the present study we tested if smelling of Androstenol, a steroid produced by the human body and reported to affect human behavior, may elicit cerebral activation. A further issue was to evaluate whether the pattern of activation resembles the pattern of common odors.MethodologyPET measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were conducted in 16 healthy heterosexual women during passive smelling of Androstenol, four ordinary odors (OO), and odorless air (the base line condition).Principal findingsSmelling Androstenol caused activation of a portion of the hypothalamus, which according to animal data mediates the pheromone triggered mating behavior. Smelling of OO, on the other hand, engaged only the classical olfactory regions (the piriform cortex, lateral amygdala, anterior insular and anterior cingulate cortex).ConclusionsThe observed pattern of activation is very similar to the pattern previously detected with 4,16-androstadien-3-one in heterosexual females. It suggests that several compounds released by human body may activate cerebral networks involved in human reproduction.

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“…Recent work suggests that olfactory function related to mate preference and individual recognition is feasible for a broad range of primates, including humans. 22,[31][32][33] Thus, studies of olfactory physiology do not consistently support the concept of the microsmatic primate, despite the proportionally small size of the olfactory apparatus in some primates compared to that in most other mammals or in haplorhines compared to that in strepsirrhines (Box 1). This review revisits the anatomical basis of primate olfaction with an emphasis on the nose and nasal cavity.…”

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confidence: 99%

Evolution of the nose and nasal skeleton in primates

Smith

Rossie

Bhatnagar

2007

Evolutionary Anthropology

116

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One traditional diagnostic feature of the Order Primates is a decreased emphasis on olfaction.1, 2 Some authors attribute this feature only to tarsiers and anthropoids, either through convergence or as a common feature of haplorhines.2–4 Other authors de‐emphasize olfaction relative to vision,5–7 which does not necessarily denote olfactory reduction per se. There are lengthy roots to this discussion. The importance of the sense of smell to at least some primates, humans in particular, has long been viewed as secondary to the importance of visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Smell, or olfaction, is viewed as the primitive special sense, the stimuli perceived in an unconscious manner, submerged relative to higher neural functions,1 and a sense that has been increasingly reduced during the course of primate evolution.1–8 Anatomical structures related to olfaction differ profoundly in proportions and complexity between higher taxonomic groups of primates (Haplorhini, Strepsirrhini). These anatomical differences are beyond dispute (Box 1). However, the relationship between the anatomical differences and primate sensory abilities, and hence the validity of using them to group primates into “microsmatic” or “macrosmatic” categories,9, 10 is less clear when we examine the physiological and genetic data on primate olfaction.

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Human Body Scents: Conscious Perceptions and Biological Effects

Cited by 18 publications

References 3 publications

Chemosignals of Stress Influence Social Judgments

Chemosignals of Stress Influence Social Judgments

Androstenol – a Steroid Derived Odor Activates the Hypothalamus in Women

Evolution of the nose and nasal skeleton in primates

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