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Schwambergová D, Třebická Fialová J, Havlíček J. Olfactory self-inspection: Own body odour provides cues to one's health and hygiene status. Physiol Behav 2024; 275:114449. [PMID: 38135110 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory self-inspection has been observed in various mammals, including humans. This behaviour can help individuals to monitor own state, including health and hygiene. This study's aim was to explore the frequency of sniffing particular body parts and investigate possible gender differences. Further, we tested a possible function of this behaviour, namely monitoring health and hygiene, by investigating associations between the frequency of self-sniffing and health, hygiene, and disgust sensitivity. Respondents completed an online survey on self-sniffing behaviour, health status, hygiene habits, and disgust sensitivity. Self-sniffing behaviour was investigated using a purpose-built inventory which explored the incidence and frequency of sniffing different parts of own body. Principal Component Analysis identified three main axes of self-sniffing behaviour: Social acceptability self-inspection, Intimate self-inspection, and Cosmetic self-inspection. Our results further show that respondents with lower standards of hygienic habits engage significantly more in intimate self-inspection (sniffing body parts such as genitals, anus, or navel). Interestingly, individuals who reported more frequent health issues sniff more frequently areas such as the armpits, feet, or own breath (Social acceptability self-inspection), probably to check for possible changes in smell due to illness. Our results indicate that olfactory self-inspection probably has several functions depending on the location from which the smell originates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Schwambergová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Jitka Třebická Fialová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic
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2
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Agron S, de March CA, Weissgross R, Mishor E, Gorodisky L, Weiss T, Furman-Haran E, Matsunami H, Sobel N. A chemical signal in human female tears lowers aggression in males. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002442. [PMID: 38127837 PMCID: PMC10734982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodent tears contain social chemosignals with diverse effects, including blocking male aggression. Human tears also contain a chemosignal that lowers male testosterone, but its behavioral significance was unclear. Because reduced testosterone is associated with reduced aggression, we tested the hypothesis that human tears act like rodent tears to block male aggression. Using a standard behavioral paradigm, we found that sniffing emotional tears with no odor percept reduced human male aggression by 43.7%. To probe the peripheral brain substrates of this effect, we applied tears to 62 human olfactory receptors in vitro. We identified 4 receptors that responded in a dose-dependent manner to this stimulus. Finally, to probe the central brain substrates of this effect, we repeated the experiment concurrent with functional brain imaging. We found that sniffing tears increased functional connectivity between the neural substrates of olfaction and aggression, reducing overall levels of neural activity in the latter. Taken together, our results imply that like in rodents, a human tear-bound chemosignal lowers male aggression, a mechanism that likely relies on the structural and functional overlap in the brain substrates of olfaction and aggression. We suggest that tears are a mammalian-wide mechanism that provides a chemical blanket protecting against aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shani Agron
- The Azrieli National Center for Human Brain Imaging and Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- The Department for Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Claire A. de March
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Reut Weissgross
- The Azrieli National Center for Human Brain Imaging and Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- The Department for Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eva Mishor
- The Azrieli National Center for Human Brain Imaging and Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- The Department for Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lior Gorodisky
- The Azrieli National Center for Human Brain Imaging and Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- The Department for Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Weiss
- The Azrieli National Center for Human Brain Imaging and Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- The Department for Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Edna Furman-Haran
- The Azrieli National Center for Human Brain Imaging and Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hiroaki Matsunami
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Noam Sobel
- The Azrieli National Center for Human Brain Imaging and Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- The Department for Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Williams R, Moazzem MS, Dees J, Hayden M, Traynor M, Cho S. Consumer acceptability of no added sugar pound cakes under blind and informed testing conditions. J Food Sci 2023; 88:4677-4692. [PMID: 37751062 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Stevia is an emerging natural high-intensity sweetener. There are negative perceptions of zero-calorie sweeteners, but studies that provide knowledge of these sweeteners improve their perception. This study evaluated consumer acceptability of a zero-sugar bakery product under blind and informed conditions (n = 96) along with physicochemical analysis of the products. Rebaudioside A (Reb A) and the new types of stevia (Rebs D and M) with sugar as a control were used to formulate pound cakes. Panelists evaluated the overall hedonic impressions (aroma, texture, flavor, and aftertaste) and intensity (sweetness and bitterness) of the cakes under blind and informed conditions with an enforced 2-week break between evaluations. During the informed session, a document was provided prior to evaluating samples that included stevia's health benefits and the nutritional facts panels for the cakes. The cakes underwent volatile profile (electronic nose [e-nose]) and water activity (aw ) analysis. Overall, stevia cakes showed an increase in flavor and texture liking during the informed session when compared to the blind session, but only Reb A showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). The increase in liking scores indicated that information positively affected the consumer's perception of the stevia-sweetened cakes attributes. The e-nose confirmed differences in aroma. There was a significant difference in aw of the samples Rebs A, D, M versus sucrose (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed among the Rebs (p > 0.05). This study illustrates that stevia, despite non-browning or fermenting, can be used in a practical baking application, and product-related information impacts consumer acceptability. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study demonstrates that product-related information may have an impact on the consumer acceptability of the product. Through potential labeling improvements, overall consumer perception and acceptability of zero-sugar added or low-sugar products could be improved. This study also illustrates that stevia, despite being a non-browning or fermenting sugar alternative, can be used in a practical baking application.
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Dal Bò E, Natali L, Gentili C, Cecchetto C. Low odor awareness predicts reduced olfactory abilities in women with depressive symptoms, but not with anxiety symptoms. J Affect Disord 2023; 338:171-179. [PMID: 37290528 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olfactory disorders and affective symptoms are tightly related. However, the factors underlying this association are not yet understood. One candidate factor is "odor awareness": the degree of attention individuals pays to the odors. However, the association between odor awareness and olfactory abilities in individuals with affective symptoms has not been clarified yet. METHOD The present study examined whether odor awareness may moderate (a) the relation between olfactory dysfunctions and depressive and anxiety symptoms; (b) the relation between the perceptual ratings of the odors and depressive and anxiety symptoms in a sample of healthy women (n = 214). Self-report measures of depression and anxiety were collected, whereas the Sniffin' Stick test was employed to measure olfactory abilities. RESULTS Linear regression analysis revealed that individuals with higher depressive symptoms presented lower olfactory abilities and that odor awareness was a significant moderator of the association between depressive symptoms and olfactory abilities. Anxiety symptoms were not related to any of the olfactory abilities considered, and this relationship did not change according to odor awareness. The familiarity rating of the odor was significantly predicted by odor awareness. These results were confirmed by Bayesian statistics. LIMITATIONS The sample was composed only of women. CONCLUSIONS In a healthy population of women, only the presence of depressive symptoms is related to reduced olfactory performance. Odor awareness may be implicated in the development and maintenance of olfactory dysfunction; hence it could be used as a useful target for specific treatments in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Dal Bò
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131 Padua, Italy; Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy.
| | - Ludovica Natali
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy; Centro di Ateneo Servizi Clinici Universitari Psicologici (SCUP), Via Belzoni, 84, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Claudio Gentili
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131 Padua, Italy; Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy; Centro di Ateneo Servizi Clinici Universitari Psicologici (SCUP), Via Belzoni, 84, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Cinzia Cecchetto
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131 Padua, Italy
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Schwambergová D, Pátková Ž, Třebická Fialová J, Třebický V, Stella D, Havlíček J. Immunoactivation Affects Perceived Body Odor and Facial but Not Vocal Attractiveness. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 21:14747049231218010. [PMID: 38087426 PMCID: PMC10722934 DOI: 10.1177/14747049231218010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Several previous studies have shown that in mammals, the health status of conspecifics can be assessed based on perceptual cues. Olfactory, visual, or acoustic cues may lead to avoidant behavior, thus reducing the risk of contagion by close contact with infected individuals. We tested whether immune system activation after immunization leads to perceptible changes in body odor and facial and vocal attractiveness in humans. We have experimentally activated the immune system of male participants using vaccination against hepatitis A/B and meningococcus. Their body odor, facial photographs, and vocal recordings were collected before and 14 days after vaccination. Subsequently, the body odor samples, facial photographs, and vocal recordings were assessed by female raters for their attractiveness and healthiness. We have also measured skin coloration (from facial photographs and in vivo using a spectrophotometer), vocal parameters, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as a marker of inflammation. We found an increase in perceived body odor attractiveness, a decrease in facial attractiveness and healthiness, and no change in vocal attractiveness 14 days after vaccination compared to the prevaccination condition. Moreover, there was no change in facial coloration or vocal parameters between the prevaccination and postvaccination conditions. Prevaccination CRP levels were negatively associated with body odor and facial attractiveness and positively associated with body odor intensity. Overall, our results suggest that perceived body odor as well as facial but not vocal attractiveness may provide cues to activation of the immune response and that each modality may carry specific information about the individual's condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Schwambergová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Žaneta Pátková
- Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Vít Třebický
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Stella
- Department of the Human Dimensions of Global Change, Global Change Research Institute CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Lohrer EC, Dworschak A, Croy I, Gellrich J, Sabha M, Parisato L, Schriever VA. Children’s Personal Significance of Olfaction — the ChiPSO Questionnaire. CHEMOSENS PERCEPT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12078-022-09303-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
The human sense of smell has different functions which can be categorized as “food,” “social,” and “environment.” Different questionnaires about the importance of olfaction in adults are available, but little attention has been paid to children and adolescents. Therefore, we aimed to develop a questionnaire about children’s personal significance of olfaction (ChiPSO).
Methods
The questionnaire was developed in two steps. The first questionnaire included 33 statements about the importance of olfactory information in daily life — covering three subscales “food,” “environment,” and “social” administered to 191 participants (mean age: 14.4 ± 1.7 years). The five best fitting items of each subscale were chosen for the final 15-item questionnaire. In the second part, we administered the developed questionnaire to 208 children and adolescents (mean age: 11.5 ± 3.5 years) who additionally underwent olfactory testing to investigate the association between olfactory function and questionnaire results. Participants were separated in two age groups: (i) 6–11 years (children), (ii) 12–17 years (adolescents).
Results
A significant influence of age on the total ChiPSO score and all three subscales with adolescents scoring higher than children was found. Additionally, there was a significant influence of sex in adolescents on total ChiPSO score and subscales “social” and “food” with girls scoring higher than boys.
Conclusion
We report an association between questionnaires results and olfactory performance. Additionally, olfactory information seems to be more important to adolescents compared to children and girls compared to boys.
Implications
The ChiPSO questionnaire is a practical tool to evaluate the importance of olfactory information in children and adolescents aged 6–17 years.
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Fantin L, Pinzano C, Rumeau C, Hossu G, Ceyte H. Effects of Gender and Age on Self-reported Odor Imagery Ability. CHEMOSENS PERCEPT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12078-022-09302-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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8
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Cross-modal associations of human body odour attractiveness with facial and vocal attractiveness provide little support for the backup signals hypothesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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Li ZL, Hummel T, Zou LQ. Sniffing of Body Odors and Individual Significance of Olfaction Are Associated with Sexual Desire: A Cross-Cultural Study in China, India, and the USA. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:3703-3713. [PMID: 35997908 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02398-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory sensations contribute to sexual desire and sexual behavior. However, the degree to which individual importance of olfactory function and body odors relate to sexual desire is not known. This study was conducted to preliminarily examine these relationships among Chinese college students (N = 1903) via the Importance of Olfaction Questionnaire, the Body Odor Sniffing Questionnaire, and the Sexual Desire Inventory, which were used to measure subjective significance of olfaction, frequency of sniffing self or others, and sexual desire, respectively. Individuals who assigned higher importance to olfaction or engaged more in body odor sniffing showed stronger sexual desire. We further explored these associations in different cultures to determine whether cultural consistency existed. We conducted a second study to make cross-cultural comparisons between Indian (N = 313) and US (N = 249) populations. For both countries, a higher importance placed on olfaction and a higher prevalence of body odor sniffing were consistently associated with stronger sexual desire. In conclusion, our study confirmed that people who placed more value on olfactory function or engaged more in body odor sniffing showed stronger sexual desire. These correlations were consistent for both sexes and across different cultures, further indicating the importance of olfaction in sexuality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Lin Li
- Chemical Senses and Mental Health Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, No. 1023 Shatainan Road, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lai-Quan Zou
- Chemical Senses and Mental Health Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, No. 1023 Shatainan Road, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Roberts SC, Třebická Fialová J, Sorokowska A, Langford B, Sorokowski P, Třebický V, Havlíček J. Emotional expression in human odour. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2022; 4:e44. [PMID: 37588919 PMCID: PMC10426192 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2022.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent work has demonstrated that human body odour alters with changing emotional state and that emotionally laden odours can affect the physiology and behaviour of people exposed to them. Here we review these discoveries, which we believe add to a growing recognition that the human sense of smell and its potential role in social interactions have been underappreciated. However, we also critically evaluate the current evidence, with a particular focus on methodology and the interpretation of emotional odour studies. We argue that while the evidence convincingly indicates that humans retain a capacity for olfactory communication of emotion, the extent to which this occurs in ordinary social interaction remains an open question. Future studies should place fewer restrictions on participant selection and lifestyle and adopt more realistic experimental designs. We also need to devote more consideration to underlying mechanisms and to recognise the constraints that these may place on effective communication. Finally, we outline some promising approaches to address these issues, and raise some broader theoretical questions that such approaches may help us to answer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ben Langford
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Penicuik, UK
| | | | - Vít Třebický
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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11
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Li ZL, Mahmut MK, Zou LQ. Do you often sniff yourself or others? Development of the Body Odor Sniffing Questionnaire and a cross-cultural survey in China and the USA. Physiol Behav 2022; 255:113934. [PMID: 35908610 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Body odor can convey much information about an individual and thus we frequently engage in sniffing one's own and other people's body odor. However, there is scarce evidence on the within- and cross-cultural variation in body odor sniffing behaviors and no psychometric scale for specifically measuring such behaviors. Hence, our study aimed to develop the Body Odor Sniffing Questionnaire (BOSQ) and used it to make a cross-cultural comparison. METHODS In Study 1, 2,026 participants were recruited from our university, with one half used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the factor structure of the BOSQ (sample 1) and the other half used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to verify the factor structure (sample 2). In Study 2, 352 Chinese and 254 US participants were recruited to complete the BOSQ through Wenjuanxing and Amazon Mechanical Turk, enabling comparison of body odor sniffing behaviors across two cultures. RESULTS The Study 1 results showed that the BOSQ comprises 17 items in three factors: self-private body odor, others' body odor, and self-common body odor. The CFA results further supported that this three-factor model was a good fit. The Study 2 results showed that US participants scored higher overall and on the self-private body odor and others' body odor dimensions, whereas Chinese participants scored higher on the self-common body odor dimension. CONCLUSIONS The BOSQ demonstrated good reliability and validity, which is a useful tool for evaluating individuals' body odor sniffing behaviors. Cross-cultural difference existed as the US population reported a higher prevalence of body odor sniffing behavior, compared to the Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Lin Li
- Chemical Senses and Mental Health Laboratory, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mehmet K Mahmut
- Food, Flavour and Fragrance Lab, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lai-Quan Zou
- Chemical Senses and Mental Health Laboratory, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Krumpholz C, Quigley C, Ameen K, Reuter C, Fusani L, Leder H. The Effects of Pitch Manipulation on Male Ratings of Female Speakers and Their Voices. Front Psychol 2022; 13:911854. [PMID: 35874336 PMCID: PMC9302589 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.911854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vocal and facial cues typically co-occur in natural settings, and multisensory processing of voice and face relies on their synchronous presentation. Psychological research has examined various facial and vocal cues to attractiveness as well as to judgements of sexual dimorphism, health, and age. However, few studies have investigated the interaction of vocal and facial cues in attractiveness judgments under naturalistic conditions using dynamic, ecologically valid stimuli. Here, we used short videos or audio tracks of females speaking full sentences and used a manipulation of voice pitch to investigate cross-modal interactions of voice pitch on facial attractiveness and related ratings. Male participants had to rate attractiveness, femininity, age, and health of synchronized audio-video recordings or voices only, with either original or modified voice pitch. We expected audio stimuli with increased voice pitch to be rated as more attractive, more feminine, healthier, and younger. If auditory judgements cross-modally influence judgements of facial attributes, we additionally expected the voice pitch manipulation to affect ratings of audiovisual stimulus material. We tested 106 male participants in a within-subject design in two sessions. Analyses revealed that voice recordings with increased voice pitch were perceived to be more feminine and younger, but not more attractive or healthier. When coupled with video recordings, increased pitch lowered perceived age of faces, but did not significantly influence perceived attractiveness, femininity, or health. Our results suggest that our manipulation of voice pitch has a measurable impact on judgements of femininity and age, but does not measurably influence vocal and facial attractiveness in naturalistic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Krumpholz
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Christina Krumpholz,
| | - Cliodhna Quigley
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karsan Ameen
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Reuter
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Musicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Leder
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Dal Bò E, Gentili C, Castellani A, Tripodi C, Fischmeister FPS, Cecchetto C. Olfactory meta-cognition in individuals with depressive and anxiety symptoms: The differential role of common and social odors. J Affect Disord 2022; 308:259-267. [PMID: 35429542 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diminished olfactory functioning has been reported in depression, whereas evidence in anxiety disorders is still controversial. Olfactory meta-cognitive abilities (i.e., olfactory awareness, imagery and reactivity, and the importance of odors) are essential in shaping olfaction. Few studies examined these meta-cognitive abilities in relation to depressive, anxiety, and social anxiety symptoms, and none of them considered the awareness of social odors (i.e., body odors). METHODS This pre-registered study examined the relationship between olfactory meta-cognitive abilities and symptoms of depression, general anxiety, and social anxiety in 429 individuals. Self-report measures of symptoms of depression, general anxiety, and social anxiety, along with self-report olfactory meta-cognitive scales, were collected using an online survey. RESULTS Linear regression analyses revealed that olfactory awareness and importance of common odors were significantly directly predicted by symptoms of general anxiety, while affective importance to odors was negatively predicted by symptoms of depression. Regarding social odors, higher symptoms of depression and lower symptoms of social anxiety predicted increased awareness. LIMITATIONS Higher prevalence of women and narrow age range of the participants. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed only with self-report questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS Symptoms of anxiety seem to be associated with higher levels of common odor awareness, corroborating the importance of olfactory functions in anxiety. In addition, results on social odors seem to reflect dysfunctional social behaviour that characterized symptoms of depression and social anxiety. Hence, the assessment of meta-cognitive abilities may represent a useful tool in the prevention and assessment of depressive, anxiety, and social anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Dal Bò
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131 Padua, Italy; Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Claudio Gentili
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131 Padua, Italy; Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Castellani
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Carmen Tripodi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Florian Ph S Fischmeister
- Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria; BioTechMed, Graz, Austria; Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cinzia Cecchetto
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy.
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Canine Smell Preferences—Do Dogs Have Their Favorite Scents? Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12121488. [PMID: 35739826 PMCID: PMC9219509 DOI: 10.3390/ani12121488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary There are many products that are targeted to pet owners. One category of these products is dog repellents—strongly aromatized solutions designed to stop dogs from approaching and investigating particular areas; the second are cosmetics which should be pleasant for dogs. Dogs have a particularly sensitive sense of smell; therefore, strong scents may be very intense, and not always pleasant, stimuli. It is truly interesting, then, that canine cosmetic products often have very strong fragrances designed mostly to appeal to the dog owners, rather than to the dogs themselves. Indeed, the scents that dogs choose to put on their fur differ strongly from those of common cosmetics. Dogs choose mostly intense, animal-derived smells, such as feces or carcasses, so there is a need to differentiate between canine and human smell preferences. As there is limited scientific data related to canine smell preferences, the purpose of this study was to verify dogs’ reactions to selected scents, which can also be appealing to humans. Our study shows that dogs were more likely to interact with the scents of blueberry, blackberry, mint, rose, lavender, and linalol. Abstract The available evidence on dogs’ scent preferences is quite limited. The purpose of this study was to verify the canine response to selected odors that may also be preferred by humans. The experiment was performed using 14 adult dogs (10 female and 4 male) of different breeds, body size, and age (1–14 years). During the experiment, dogs were exposed to 33 odor samples: a neutral sample containing pure dipropylene glycol (control) and 32 samples containing dipropylene glycol and fragrance oils. The dog was brought to the experimental area by its handler, who then stopped at the entrance, unleashed the dog, and remained in the starting position. The dog freely explored the area for 30 s. All dog movements and behavior were recorded and analyzed. The methodology of observing the dogs freely exploring the experimental area allowed us to determine the smells that were the most attractive to them (food, beaver clothing). Our study shows that dogs interacted more frequently with the scents of blueberries, blackberries, mint, rose, lavender, and linalol.
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Kornbausch N, Debong MW, Buettner A, Heydel JM, Loos H. Odorant Metabolism in Humans. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202202866. [PMID: 35522818 PMCID: PMC9541901 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202202866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Odorants are relatively small molecules which are easily taken up and distributed in the human body. Despite their relevance in everyday life, however, only a limited amount of evidence about their metabolism, pathways, and bioactivities in the human body exists. With this Review, we aim to encourage future interdisciplinary research on the function and mechanisms of the biotransformation of odorants, involving different disciplines such as nutrition, medicine, biochemistry, chemistry, and sensory sciences. Starting with a general overview of the different ways of odorant uptake and enzymes involved in the metabolism of odorants, a more precise description of biotransformation processes and their function in the oral cavity, the nose, the lower respiratory tract (LRT), and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is given together with an overview of the different routes of odorant excretion. Finally, perspectives for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Kornbausch
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Chemistry and Pharmacy, GERMANY
| | - Marcel W Debong
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Chemistry and Pharmacy, GERMANY
| | - Andrea Buettner
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Chemistry and Pharmacy, GERMANY
| | - Jean-Marie Heydel
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation: Centre des Sciences du Gout et de l'Alimentation, Flavour perception: from molecule to behavior, FRANCE
| | - Helene Loos
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Henkestr. 9, 91054, Erlangen, GERMANY
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16
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Kornbausch N, Debong MW, Buettner A, Heydel JM, Loos H. Odorant Metabolism in Humans. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202202866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Kornbausch
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Chemistry and Pharmacy GERMANY
| | - Marcel W. Debong
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Chemistry and Pharmacy GERMANY
| | - Andrea Buettner
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Chemistry and Pharmacy GERMANY
| | - Jean-Marie Heydel
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation: Centre des Sciences du Gout et de l'Alimentation Flavour perception: from molecule to behavior FRANCE
| | - Helene Loos
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Chemistry and Pharmacy Henkestr. 9 91054 Erlangen GERMANY
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Sorokowska A, Chabin D, Hummel T, Karwowski M. Olfactory perception relates to food neophobia in adolescence. Nutrition 2022; 98:111618. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Puleo S, Braghieri A, Pacelli C, Bendini A, Toschi TG, Torri L, Piochi M, Di Monaco R. Food Neophobia, Odor and Taste Sensitivity, and Overall Flavor Perception in Food. Foods 2021; 10:foods10123122. [PMID: 34945673 PMCID: PMC8702209 DOI: 10.3390/foods10123122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Smell, which allows us to gather information about the hedonic value of an odor, is affected by many factors. This study aimed to assess the relationship among individual factors, odor sensitivity, and enjoyment, and to evaluate how overall flavor perception and liking in actual food samples are affected by odor sensitivity. A total of 749 subjects, from four different Italian regions, participated in the study. The olfactory capabilities test on four odors (anise, banana, mint, and pine), as well as PROP (6-n-prpyl-2-thiouracil) status and food neophobia were assessed. The subjects were clustered into three groups of odor sensitivity, based on the perceived intensity of anise. The liking and intensity of the overall flavor were evaluated for four chocolate puddings with increasing sweetness (C1, C2, C3, and C4). The individual variables significantly affected the perceived intensity and liking of the odors. Even if all of the odor sensitivity groups perceived the more intensely flavored samples as the C1 and C4 chocolate puddings, the high-sensitivity group scored the global flavor of all of the samples as more intense than the low-sensitivity group. The low-sensitive subjects evaluated the liking of the sweeter samples with higher scores than the moderate-sensitive subjects, whereas the high-sensitive subjects gave intermediate scores. In conclusion, odor sensitivity plays a pivotal role in the perception and liking of real food products; this has to be taken into account in the formulation of new products, suitable for particular categories with reduced olfactory abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Puleo
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Food Science and Technology Division, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (S.P.); (R.D.M.)
| | - Ada Braghieri
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0971-205101
| | - Corrado Pacelli
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Bendini
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DiSTAL), University of Bologna, Piazza Goidanich 60, 47521 Cesena, Italy; (A.B.); (T.G.T.)
| | - Tullia Gallina Toschi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DiSTAL), University of Bologna, Piazza Goidanich 60, 47521 Cesena, Italy; (A.B.); (T.G.T.)
| | - Luisa Torri
- Sensory and Consumer Science, University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy; (L.T.); (M.P.)
| | - Maria Piochi
- Sensory and Consumer Science, University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy; (L.T.); (M.P.)
| | - Rossella Di Monaco
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Food Science and Technology Division, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (S.P.); (R.D.M.)
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The social odor scale: Development and initial validation of a new scale for the assessment of social odor awareness. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260587. [PMID: 34905551 PMCID: PMC8670672 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The degree of attention individuals pay to olfactory cues (called odor awareness) influences the role of odors in everyday life. Particularly, odors produced by the human body (i.e., social odors) are able to carry a wide variety of information and to elicit a broad spectrum of emotional reactions, making them essential in interpersonal relationships. Hence, despite the assessment of awareness toward social odors is crucial, a proper tool is still lacking. Here, we designed and initially validated the Social Odor Scale (SOS), a 12-item scale designed to measure the individual differences in awareness towards different social odors. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA; KMO test: MSA = 0.78; Bartlett's test: χ2(78) = 631.34, p < 0.001; Chi-squared test: χ2(42) = 71.84, p = 0.003) suggests that the three factors structure was the model that best fit with the Italian version of the scale. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supports a second-order model with one higher-order factor representing social odor awareness in general and three lower-order factors representing familiar, romantic partner, and stranger social odors. The final version of the scale presented a good fit (RMSEA = 0.012, SRMR = 0.069, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.997). In Study 2, CFA was performed in the German version of the scale confirming the validity of scale structure. Study 3 and 4 revealed that SOS total score and its subscales were positively correlated with other validated olfactory scales, but not with olfactory abilities. Moreover, SOS was found to be related to the gender of the participants: women reported to be more aware to social odors and, specifically, to familiar social odors than men. Overall, the results indicated that SOS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess awareness toward social odors in everyday life.
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Beaton AA, Jones L, Benton D, Richards G. Judgements of attractiveness of the opposite sex and nostril differences in self-rated mood: The effects of androstenol. Biol Psychol 2021; 167:108237. [PMID: 34864067 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Androstenol has been reported to influence judgements of attractiveness and to affect participants' mood. In the present study, participants were asked to sniff androstenol or a control odour (pure ethanol) unilaterally with the left or right nostril. Subsequently, they rated the attractiveness of photographs of the opposite sex and their own feelings on four mood scales. Participants rated the photographs as significantly more attractive after sniffing androstenol compared with the control odour. This did not depend upon androstenol being perceived as pleasant. Androstenol made male participants feel more lively, and both male and female participants more sexy, when sniffed through the right compared with the left nostril. Participants rated themselves as more irritable and aggressive when exposed to androstenol through the left nostril. The findings are discussed in relation to the effects of arousal on attraction and in the context of current theories of hemispheric differences in emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan A Beaton
- Department of Psychology, College of Human and Health Sciences, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK; Department of Psychology, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales SY23 3UX, UK.
| | - Lowri Jones
- Department of Psychology, College of Human and Health Sciences, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK
| | - David Benton
- Department of Psychology, College of Human and Health Sciences, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Gareth Richards
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Dame Margaret Barbour Building, Wallace Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, England NE2 4DR, UK
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21
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Scheller M, Matorres F, Little AC, Tompkins L, de Sousa AA. The Role of Vision in the Emergence of Mate Preferences. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:3785-3797. [PMID: 33851315 PMCID: PMC8604830 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01901-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Cross-cultural research has repeatedly demonstrated sex differences in the importance of partner characteristics when choosing a mate. Men typically report higher preferences for younger, more physically attractive women, while women typically place more importance on a partner's status and wealth. As the assessment of such partner characteristics often relies on visual cues, this raises the question whether visual experience is necessary for sex-specific mate preferences to develop. To shed more light onto the emergence of sex differences in mate choice, the current study assessed how preferences for attractiveness, resources, and personality factors differ between sighted and blind individuals using an online questionnaire. We further investigate the role of social factors and sensory cue selection in these sex differences. Our sample consisted of 94 sighted and blind participants with different ages of blindness onset: 19 blind/28 sighted males and 19 blind/28 sighted females. Results replicated well-documented findings in the sighted, with men placing more importance on physical attractiveness and women placing more importance on status and resources. However, while physical attractiveness was less important to blind men, blind women considered physical attractiveness as important as sighted women. The importance of a high status and likeable personality was not influenced by sightedness. Blind individuals considered auditory cues more important than visual cues, while sighted males showed the opposite pattern. Further, relationship status and indirect, social influences were related to preferences. Overall, our findings shed light on the availability of visual information for the emergence of sex differences in mate preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike Scheller
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
- School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX, UK.
| | | | | | - Lucy Tompkins
- Centre for Health and Cognition, Bath Spa University, Bath, UK
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22
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Damon F, Mezrai N, Magnier L, Leleu A, Durand K, Schaal B. Olfaction in the Multisensory Processing of Faces: A Narrative Review of the Influence of Human Body Odors. Front Psychol 2021; 12:750944. [PMID: 34675855 PMCID: PMC8523678 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.750944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A recent body of research has emerged regarding the interactions between olfaction and other sensory channels to process social information. The current review examines the influence of body odors on face perception, a core component of human social cognition. First, we review studies reporting how body odors interact with the perception of invariant facial information (i.e., identity, sex, attractiveness, trustworthiness, and dominance). Although we mainly focus on the influence of body odors based on axillary odor, we also review findings about specific steroids present in axillary sweat (i.e., androstenone, androstenol, androstadienone, and estratetraenol). We next survey the literature showing body odor influences on the perception of transient face properties, notably in discussing the role of body odors in facilitating or hindering the perception of emotional facial expression, in relation to competing frameworks of emotions. Finally, we discuss the developmental origins of these olfaction-to-vision influences, as an emerging literature indicates that odor cues strongly influence face perception in infants. Body odors with a high social relevance such as the odor emanating from the mother have a widespread influence on various aspects of face perception in infancy, including categorization of faces among other objects, face scanning behavior, or facial expression perception. We conclude by suggesting that the weight of olfaction might be especially strong in infancy, shaping social perception, especially in slow-maturing senses such as vision, and that this early tutoring function of olfaction spans all developmental stages to disambiguate a complex social environment by conveying key information for social interactions until adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Damon
- Developmental Ethology and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, Inrae, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS (UMR 6265), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
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23
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Schwambergová D, Sorokowska A, Slámová Ž, Třebická Fialová J, Sabiniewicz A, Nowak-Kornicka J, Borkowska B, Pawłowski B, Havlíček J. No evidence for association between human body odor quality and immune system functioning. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 132:105363. [PMID: 34343779 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that women perceive male faces with a more reactive immune system as more attractive, but whether body odor might likewise provide cues to immune function has not been investigated yet. These two studies tested a possible relationship between body odor quality and immunoreactivity (Study 1) and immune system function (Study 2). In Study 1, we collected body odor samples from 21 men just before and two weeks after vaccination against hepatitis A/B and meningococcus. We determined the levels of specific antibodies (selected as markers of immune system's reactivity), testosterone, and cortisol. Subsequently, 88 female raters assessed the odor samples for their attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. In Study 2, we collected body odor and blood samples from 35 men and women. We assessed key parameters of their innate and adaptive immunity, such as complement activity or total lymphocyte T and B counts and asked 95 raters to assess the odor samples for their attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. In Study 1, we found no significant association between antibody levels induced by vaccination and perceived body odor attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. We also found no significant relationship between antibody levels and steroid hormones (testosterone and cortisol). In Study 2, we likewise found no association between basal key parameters (innate and adaptive) of the immune system and body odor quality. Our results indicate that body odor may not serve as a cue to the reactivity of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Schwambergová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic.
| | - Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Žaneta Slámová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic; Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Třebická Fialová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Agnieszka Sabiniewicz
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137 Wroclaw, Poland; Smell and Taste Clinic, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Judyta Nowak-Kornicka
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Borkowska
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Bogusław Pawłowski
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
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Roth TS, Samara I, Kret ME. Multimodal mate choice: Exploring the effects of sight, sound, and scent on partner choice in a speed-date paradigm. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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25
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Spence C. The scent of attraction and the smell of success: crossmodal influences on person perception. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2021; 6:46. [PMID: 34173932 PMCID: PMC8233629 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-021-00311-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, there has been an explosion of research into the crossmodal influence of olfactory cues on multisensory person perception. Numerous peer-reviewed studies have documented that a variety of olfactory stimuli, from ambient malodours through to fine fragrances, and even a range of chemosensory body odours can influence everything from a perceiver's judgments of another person's attractiveness, age, affect, health/disease status, and even elements of their personality. The crossmodal and multisensory contributions to such effects are reviewed and the limitations/peculiarities of the research that have been published to date are highlighted. At the same time, however, it is important to note that the presence of scent (and/or the absence of malodour) can also influence people's (i.e., a perceiver's) self-confidence which may, in turn, affect how attractive they appear to others. Several potential cognitive mechanisms have been put forward to try and explain such crossmodal/multisensory influences, and some of the neural substrates underpinning these effects have now been characterized. At the end of this narrative review, a number of the potential (and actual) applications for, and implications of, such crossmodal/multisensory phenomena involving olfaction are outlined briefly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Spence
- Crossmodal Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Anna Watts Building, Oxford, OX2 6BW, UK.
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Hernández-Munive AK, Rebolledo-Solleiro D, Fernández-Guasti A. Reduced sexual motivation of diabetic female rats: Restoration with insulin. Horm Behav 2021; 132:104992. [PMID: 33991798 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate female rat sexual motivation in a model of diabetes mellitus type 1. Severe hyperglycemia was induced in ovariectomized Wistar rats by injecting streptozotocin [STZ, 100 mg/kg, i.p.]. Ten days later, females received estradiol benzoate (10 μg/rat, s.c.) plus progesterone (3 mg/rat, s.c.). A group of STZ-treated animals was administered with insulin (2-4 U) every 12 h for 10 days, which normalized glucose levels. In the partner preference (PP) and sexual incentive motivation (SIM) tests, control females spent more time close to a sexually experienced male (SE) than with a castrated male (CM). STZ-treated females stayed the same amount of time with both stimuli, that is, they lost their sexual preference. We also evaluated the sense of smell using two behavioral tests, one related to sexual odors (SO) and another one to food odors (FO). In the SO test, control females spent more time sniffing the sawdust coming from cages that contained SE males; hyperglycemic females remained the same amount of time sniffing the sawdust of both stimuli: SE and CM. In the FO test, no differences were found between control and STZ-treated groups. Insulin treatment reverted the changes observed in hyperglycemic females in the PP, SIM and SO tests. These data suggest that severe hyperglycemia decreases sexual motivation and that insulin recovers such diminution.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Hernández-Munive
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, Mexico
| | - D Rebolledo-Solleiro
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Conductual, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, Mexico; Escuela Internacional de Medicina, Universidad Anáhuac, Cancún, Mexico
| | - A Fernández-Guasti
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, Mexico.
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Prokosch ML, Airington Z, Murray DR. Investigating the relationship between olfactory acuity, disgust, and mating strategies. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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28
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Olfaction Is Associated With Sexual Motivation and Satisfaction in Older Men and Women. J Sex Med 2021; 18:295-302. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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29
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Schäfer L, Schriever VA, Croy I. Human olfactory dysfunction: causes and consequences. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:569-579. [PMID: 33496882 PMCID: PMC7835667 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03381-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The sense of smell essentially contributes to social communication, guides nutrition behaviour and elicits avoidance towards environmental hazards. Olfactory smell impairment may hence entail severe consequences for affected individuals. Compared with sensory loss in other modalities, reduced olfactory function is often unnoticed by those affected and diagnosed late. Those patients seeking help frequently suffer from long-term impairments resulting in reduced well-being and quality of life. The current review provides an overview of aetiology, prevalence and specifics of diagnostics in acquired and congenital olfactory loss and focusses on short- and long-term consequences. Compensation strategies are elaborated, and treatment options are mentioned. Individual characteristics associated with the development of serious mental health impairment are discussed in order to help practitioners identifying populations at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Klinik Und Poliklinik Für Psychotherapie Und Psychosomatik, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany
| | - Valentin A Schriever
- Abteilung Neuropädiatrie, Klinik Und Poliklinik Für Kinder- Und Jugendmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Klinik Und Poliklinik Für Psychotherapie Und Psychosomatik, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany.
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30
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Sorokowska A, Sabiniewicz A, Larsson M. TOM-32-An extended test for the assessment of olfactory memory. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 344:108873. [PMID: 32710924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olfactory memory testing is a promising way to explore different aspects of smell-related abilities in healthy subjects as well as to diagnose various diseases associated with disorders of this type of memory. Despite the obvious value of olfactory memory assessments, few available methods enable its diagnosis. NEW METHOD The aim of our study was to create a standardized research tool designed for olfactory memory studies: an extended, 32-item version of an available "Test for Odor Memory". RESULTS The study involving 222 subjects revealed satisfactory psychometric qualities of TOM-32, and - as hypothesized - subjects with depression scored significantly lower than healthy participants. We additionally showed that TOM-32 scores was associated with sex, age and olfactory awareness. Women performed significantly better than men, young people tended to have lower false alarm rate than older subjects and olfactory awareness was positively associated with olfactory memory. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) TOM-32 could expand the possibilities of testing olfactory memory. It may offer additional information about cognitive and sensory abilities relative to existing research tools, and the large number of included test items may facilitate repeated and longitudinal testing. Wide range of applied odors increases the possibility to detect subtle differences between, as well as changes within, individuals. CONCLUSIONS We present an extensive olfactory memory test with satisfactory psychometric qualities - a test that is comprehensive enough to show significant inter- and intra-individual differences, but time-efficient enough to be comfortable in daily research and clinical usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Smell and Taste Research Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Pl. Dawida 1, 50-527 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Sabiniewicz
- Smell and Taste Research Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Pl. Dawida 1, 50-527 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Maria Larsson
- Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Frescati Hagväg 9A, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
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31
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Barros F, Figueiredo C, Costa A, Soares SC. Sensory Processing in the Autism Spectrum: The Role of Attention to Detail and Somatic Trait Anxiety in the Olfactory Perception of the General Population. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:2338-2353. [PMID: 32964357 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04711-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as autism traits (AT), have been associated with altered sensory processing. However, the role of AT in olfactory processing is still unclear. We analyzed the impact of AT and trait anxiety (TANX), relevant in the context of autism and olfactory perception, in the olfactory abilities of a nonclinical adult sample. Participants (N = 116) completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and the Sniffin' Sticks Extended Test to measure AT, TANX and olfactory abilities, respectively. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis suggested that women and higher scores on the Attention to Detail subscale of AQ were associated with better odor discrimination, and higher somatic TANX was related to poorer odor discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Barros
- William James Center for Research (WJCR), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Figueiredo
- Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP), University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Adriana Costa
- Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Campus Palma de Cima, Palma de Cima, 1649-023, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sandra C Soares
- William James Center for Research (WJCR), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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32
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Barros F, Soares SC. Giving meaning to the social world in autism spectrum disorders: Olfaction as a missing piece of the puzzle? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 116:239-250. [PMID: 32562688 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Altered social cognition is a core feature of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). These impairments have been explained as the consequence of compromised social motivational mechanisms that limit social interest and activate a cascade of social deficits. Following this rational, we argue that approaches capable of surpassing ASD usual restraints (e.g., deficits in verbal abilities), and able to assign social meaning, could be more effective at responding to these difficulties. In this framework, we propose that olfaction, as well as cross-modal integration strategies involving both visual and olfactory domains, may have such potential. In fact, most of socioemotional processing deficits in ASD have been shown in an uni-modal perspective, mainly with visual stimuli. However, the social environment involves other modalities and is typically multisensorial. Given the potential of olfaction as a gateway for socioemotional information in ASD, we argue in favor of studying olfactory perception, as well as visuo-olfactory integration, given the potential of these approaches to drive effective interventions and give the access to a meaningful social world in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Barros
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; William James Center for Research (WJCR), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sandra C Soares
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; William James Center for Research (WJCR), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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33
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Schaal B, Saxton TK, Loos H, Soussignan R, Durand K. Olfaction scaffolds the developing human from neonate to adolescent and beyond. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190261. [PMID: 32306879 PMCID: PMC7209940 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of the olfactory sense is regularly apparent across development. The fetus is bathed in amniotic fluid (AF) that conveys the mother's chemical ecology. Transnatal olfactory continuity between the odours of AF and milk assists in the transition to nursing. At the same time, odours emanating from the mammary areas provoke appetitive responses in newborns. Odours experienced from the mother's diet during breastfeeding, and from practices such as pre-mastication, may assist in the dietary transition at weaning. In parallel, infants are attracted to and recognize their mother's odours; later, children are able to recognize other kin and peers based on their odours. Familiar odours, such as those of the mother, regulate the child's emotions, and scaffold perception and learning through non-olfactory senses. During juvenility and adolescence, individuals become more sensitive to some bodily odours, while the timing of adolescence itself has been speculated to draw from the chemical ecology of the family unit. Odours learnt early in life and within the family niche continue to influence preferences as mate choice becomes relevant. Olfaction thus appears significant in turning on, sustaining and, in cases when mother odour is altered, disturbing adaptive reciprocity between offspring and carer during the multiple transitions of development between birth and adolescence. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Olfactory communication in humans'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoist Schaal
- Developmental Ethology and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Centre des Sciences du Goût, UMR 6265 CNRS-Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Inra-AgroSup, Dijon, France
| | - Tamsin K. Saxton
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Hélène Loos
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Sensory Analytics, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Freising, Germany
| | - Robert Soussignan
- Developmental Ethology and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Centre des Sciences du Goût, UMR 6265 CNRS-Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Inra-AgroSup, Dijon, France
| | - Karine Durand
- Developmental Ethology and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Centre des Sciences du Goût, UMR 6265 CNRS-Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Inra-AgroSup, Dijon, France
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34
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Roberts SC, Havlíček J, Schaal B. Human olfactory communication: current challenges and future prospects. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190258. [PMID: 32306869 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although anthropologists frequently report the centrality of odours in the daily lives and cultural beliefs of many small-scale communities, Western scholars have historically considered the sense of smell as minimally involved in human communication. Here, we suggest that the origin and persistence of this latter view might be a consequence of the fact that most research is conducted on participants from Western societies who, collectively, were rather old (adults), deodorized and desensitized (ODD) to various aspects of olfactory perception. The view is rapidly changing, however, and this themed issue provides a timely overview of the current state-of-the-art on human chemocommunication. Based on evolutionary models of communication, the papers cover both general mechanisms of odour production by 'senders' and odour perception by 'receivers'. Focus on specific functional contexts includes reciprocal impact of odours between infants and mothers, the role of odour in mate choice and how odours communicate emotion and disease. Finally, a position paper outlines pitfalls and opportunities for the future, against the context of the replication crisis in psychology. We believe a more nuanced view of human chemical communication is within our grasp if we can continue to develop inter-disciplinary insights and expand research activities beyond ODD people. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Olfactory communication in humans'.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Craig Roberts
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 42 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Benoist Schaal
- Developmental Ethology and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Centre for Taste, Smell and Feeding Behaviour Science, UMR 6265 CNRS-Université de Bourgogne-Inra-AgroSup, Dijon, France
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35
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Ferdenzi C, Richard Ortegón S, Delplanque S, Baldovini N, Bensafi M. Interdisciplinary challenges for elucidating human olfactory attractiveness. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190268. [PMID: 32306873 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many species use chemicals to communicate. In humans, there is increasing evidence that chemicals conveyed by the body are extremely important in interpersonal relationships. However, many aspects of chemical communication remain to be explored to fully understand this function in humans. The aim of this article is to identify relevant challenges in this field, with a focus on human attractiveness in the context of reproduction, and to put forward roadmaps for future studies that will hopefully extend to a wider range of social interactions. The first challenge consists in not being limited to body (mal)odours from the axilla. Preliminary data on how the odour of the face and head is perceived are presented. Second, there is a crucial need to increase our knowledge of the chemical bases of human chemical communication. Third, cross-cultural approaches must not be overlooked, because they have a major input in understanding the universal and culture-specific aspects of chemical communication. Fourth, the influence of specific cultural practices such as contraceptive and fragrance use is likely to be prominent and, therefore, needs to be well described. The fifth and last challenge for research projects in this field is the integration of different disciplines such as behavioural sciences, social sciences, neurosciences and microbiology. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Olfactory communication in humans'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Ferdenzi
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, F-69675 Bron Cedex, France
| | - Stéphane Richard Ortegón
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, F-69675 Bron Cedex, France
| | - Sylvain Delplanque
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Baldovini
- Institut de Chimie de Nice, CNRS UMR 7272, Université Côte d'Azur, F-06108 Nice, France
| | - Moustafa Bensafi
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, F-69675 Bron Cedex, France
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36
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What Makes a Partner Ideal, and for Whom? Compatibility Tests, Filter Tests, and the Mating Stability Matrix. Behav Sci (Basel) 2020; 10:bs10020048. [PMID: 32024253 PMCID: PMC7071359 DOI: 10.3390/bs10020048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We introduce a typological characterization of possible human heterosexual couples in terms of the concordance-opposition of the orientations of their active and receptive areas as defined by the tie-up theory. We show that human mating incentives, as characterized by widely adopted approaches, such as Becker’s marriage market approach, only capture very specific instances of actual couples thus characterized. Our approach allows us to instead explore how super-cooperation among partners vs. convenience vs. constriction may be regarded as alternatives modes of couple formation and cohesion, leading to very different types of couples with different implications in terms of stability and resilience. Our results may have interesting implications for future experimental research and for individual and family counseling.
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37
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Sorokowska A, Groyecka A, Karwowski M, Frackowiak T, Lansford JE, Ahmadi K, Alghraibeh AM, Aryeetey R, Bertoni A, Bettache K, Blumen S, Blazejewska M, Bortolini T, Butovskaya M, Cantarero K, Castro FN, Cetinkaya H, Chang L, Chen BB, Cunha D, David D, David OA, Dileym FA, Domínguez Espinosa ADC, Donato S, Dronova D, Dural S, Fialová J, Fisher M, Gulbetekin E, Hamamcioglu Akkaya A, Hilpert P, Hromatko I, Iafrate R, Iesyp M, James B, Jaranovic J, Jiang F, Kimamo CO, Kjelvik G, Koç F, Laar A, Lopes FDA, Macbeth G, Marcano NM, Martinez R, Mesko N, Molodovskaya N, Moradi Qezeli K, Motahari Z, Mühlhauser A, Natividade JC, Ntayi J, Oberzaucher E, Ojedokun O, Omar-Fauzee MSB, Onyishi IE, Paluszak A, Pierce JD, Pillay U, Portugal A, Razumiejczyk E, Realo A, Relvas AP, Rivas M, Rizwan M, Salkicevic S, Sarmány-Schuller I, Schmehl S, Senyk O, Sinding C, Sorbring E, Stamkou E, Stoyanova S, Šukolová D, Sutresna N, Tadinac M, Tapanya S, Teras A, Tinoco Ponciano EL, Tripathi R, Tripathi N, Tripathi M, Uhryn O, Yamamoto ME, Yoo G, Sorokowski P. Global Study of Social Odor Awareness. Chem Senses 2019; 43:503-513. [PMID: 29955865 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjy038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfaction plays an important role in human social communication, including multiple domains in which people often rely on their sense of smell in the social context. The importance of the sense of smell and its role can however vary inter-individually and culturally. Despite the growing body of literature on differences in olfactory performance or hedonic preferences across the globe, the aspects of a given culture as well as culturally universal individual differences affecting odor awareness in human social life remain unknown. Here, we conducted a large-scale analysis of data collected from 10 794 participants from 52 study sites from 44 countries all over the world. The aim of our research was to explore the potential individual and country-level correlates of odor awareness in the social context. The results show that the individual characteristics were more strongly related than country-level factors to self-reported odor awareness in different social contexts. A model including individual-level predictors (gender, age, material situation, education, and preferred social distance) provided a relatively good fit to the data, but adding country-level predictors (Human Development Index, population density, and average temperature) did not improve model parameters. Although there were some cross-cultural differences in social odor awareness, the main differentiating role was played by the individual differences. This suggests that people living in different cultures and different climate conditions may still share some similar patterns of odor awareness if they share other individual-level characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agata Groyecka
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Khodabakhsh Ahmadi
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad M Alghraibeh
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Anna Bertoni
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Karim Bettache
- Department of Psychology, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Sheyla Blumen
- Department of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Perú, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Tiago Bortolini
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marina Butovskaya
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Katarzyna Cantarero
- Faculty in Sopot, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Sopot, Poland
| | - Felipe Nalon Castro
- Laboratory of Evolution of Human Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal City, Brazil
| | | | - Lei Chang
- Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Bin-Bin Chen
- Department of Psychology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Diana Cunha
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniel David
- International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Oana A David
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Fahd A Dileym
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Silvia Donato
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Dronova
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Seda Dural
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Jitka Fialová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Maryanne Fisher
- Department of Psychology, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Canada
| | | | | | - Peter Hilpert
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Ivana Hromatko
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Raffaella Iafrate
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariana Iesyp
- Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Bawo James
- Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin-City, Nigeria
| | | | - Feng Jiang
- Department of Organization and Human Resources Management, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
| | | | - Grete Kjelvik
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences (MH), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Firat Koç
- Faculty of Literature, Department of Anthropology, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Amos Laar
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Fívia de Araújo Lopes
- Laboratory of Evolution of Human Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal City, Brazil
| | - Guillermo Macbeth
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, National University of Entre Rios, Concepción del Uruguay, Argentina
| | | | - Rocio Martinez
- Department of Social Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Norbert Mesko
- Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | | | | | | | | | - Jean Carlos Natividade
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joseph Ntayi
- Faculty of Computing and Management Science, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Oluyinka Ojedokun
- Department of Pure and Applied Psychology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria
| | | | - Ike E Onyishi
- Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Anna Paluszak
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - John D Pierce
- College of Science, Health, and the Liberal Arts, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Alda Portugal
- Department of Psychology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Centre for Social Studies, University of Madeira, Funchal, Madeira
| | - Eugenia Razumiejczyk
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, National University of Entre Rios, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anu Realo
- Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Ana Paula Relvas
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Rivas
- Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Muhammad Rizwan
- Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Svjetlana Salkicevic
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Sarmány-Schuller
- Center of Social and Psychological Sciences SAS, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Susanne Schmehl
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oksana Senyk
- Department of Psychology, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Charlotte Sinding
- INRA, Centre des Sciences du Gout et de l'Alimentation - CSGA, Dijon, France
| | - Emma Sorbring
- Centre for Child and Youth Studies, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
| | - Eftychia Stamkou
- Departament of Social Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stanislava Stoyanova
- Department of Psychology, South-West University "Neofit Rilski", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
| | - Denisa Šukolová
- Educational Research Centre, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Nina Sutresna
- Jurusan Pendidikan Kepelatihan, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
| | - Meri Tadinac
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Sombat Tapanya
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | | | - Ritu Tripathi
- Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Bangalore, India
| | - Nachiketa Tripathi
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Mamta Tripathi
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology, School of Management, Chennai, India
| | - Olja Uhryn
- Faculty of Psychology, Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Maria Emília Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Evolution of Human Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal City, Brazil
| | - Gyesook Yoo
- Department of Child and Family Studies, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
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38
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Ferdenzi C, Razafindrazaka H, Baldovini N, Poupon D, Pierron D, Bensafi M. Influence of gender and culture on the perception of acidic compounds of human body odor. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112561. [PMID: 31178171 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that human body odor is involved in interpersonal communication. However, among the wide variety of substances excreted by the human body that might act as chemosignals, much attention has been granted to androstenes to the detriment of other categories. Here, we focused on the acidic fraction of human body odor. We investigated men and women's perceptual descriptions and detection thresholds of the sexually dimorphic (male) compound 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid (HMHA) in two contrasted cultures, France and Madagascar. Perceptual responses to HMHA in both countries were very similar. HMHA proved to be more typical of body odor than another chemically-related major compound of human body odor 3MHA (3-methylhex-2-enoic acid also known as 3M2H). A significant portion of the samples studied (between 8 and 19%) was likely to be anosmic to HMHA (and to 3MHA: 25%). Although differences would be expected between men and women's perceptual responses to HMHA, based on the assumption that this compound would have a function in human partner choice, no sex differences were found for any of the perceptual variables. However, in Malagasy women, perceived intensity of HMHA was higher in participants who were in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle. Whether HMHA is relevant in the perception of a potential partner thus requires further explorations, with more implicit approaches for example and/or by investigating the repercussions of HMHA specific anosmia on interpersonal relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Ferdenzi
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, 95 bd Pinel, 69675 Bron Cedex, France.
| | - Harilanto Razafindrazaka
- Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse, CNRS UMR 5288, Université Toulouse 3, 37 Allées Jules Guesde, 31073 Toulouse Cedex 3, France; Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France; Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, 21 allée de Brienne, 31015 Cedex 6, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Baldovini
- Institut de Chimie de Nice, CNRS UMR 7272, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Parc Valrose, 28 avenue Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France
| | - Daphnée Poupon
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, 95 bd Pinel, 69675 Bron Cedex, France
| | - Denis Pierron
- Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse, CNRS UMR 5288, Université Toulouse 3, 37 Allées Jules Guesde, 31073 Toulouse Cedex 3, France
| | - Moustafa Bensafi
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, 95 bd Pinel, 69675 Bron Cedex, France
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Sorokowska A, Oleszkiewicz A. Body-odor based assessments of sex and personality - Non-significant differences between blind and sighted odor raters. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112573. [PMID: 31248615 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
People exhibit different sensitivity to the signaling properties of body odors in the social context. Here, we aimed to investigate whether visual status modulates sensitivity to socially-relevant cues carried by body odors and whether it affects psychophysical ratings of such smells. We compared abilities of 19 early-blind, 9 late-blind and 13 sighted people to accurately assess sex, neuroticism and dominance of odor donors based on body odor samples. We showed that early blind, late blind and sighted people do not differ in accuracy of sex and personality assessments based on body odor samples. Additionally, the three participating groups perceived the presented body odor samples as similarly intense, pleasant and attractive. We discuss our findings in the context of interpersonal olfactory communication and olfactory compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Smell and Taste Research Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, pl. Dawida 1, 50-527 Wroclaw, Poland; Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Anna Oleszkiewicz
- Smell and Taste Research Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, pl. Dawida 1, 50-527 Wroclaw, Poland; Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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40
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Parma V, Redolfi N, Alho L, Rocha M, Ferreira J, Silva CF, Soares SC. Ethnic influences on the perceptual properties of human chemosignals. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112544. [PMID: 31130295 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Individuals of African and Caucasian descent show different chemical signatures in their body odors (BO). Does such biological difference have a perceptual correlate? We tested BO donors and raters of Afro-Portuguese (AP) and Caucasian (C) descent to investigate whether olfactory ratings reveal an ethnic bias and whether olfactory ethnic discrimination is possible. C (vs. AP) women rated the C BO as more pleasant, even when controlling for intensity. The C BO labelled as AP was rated as more intense by C raters. Although discriminability of ethnicity and sex is at chance, a nominal advantage for AP vs. C BO emerges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Parma
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience Area, Trieste, Italy; William James Center for Research, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Nelly Redolfi
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience Area, Trieste, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Alho
- Lusófona University of Humanities and Technology, Lisbon, Portugal; HEI-Lab (Human-Environment Interaction Lab), Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Rocha
- William James Center for Research, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisbon, Portugal; CINTESIS.UA, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jacqueline Ferreira
- CINTESIS.UA, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carlos F Silva
- William James Center for Research, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisbon, Portugal; CINTESIS.UA, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sandra C Soares
- William James Center for Research, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; CINTESIS.UA, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
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41
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Fialová J, Hoffmann R, Roberts SC, Havlíček J. The effect of complete caloric intake restriction on human body odour quality. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112554. [PMID: 31130296 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies on various vertebrates have shown that quantity and quality of food intake affect odour attractiveness as perceived by potential mates. In humans, the quality of body odour is similarly affected by ingested foods, such as by variation in meat and garlic intake. Nevertheless, it is not known whether quantity of food has an impact on human body odour attractiveness. Thus, here we tested how 48 h of complete caloric intake restriction affects the hedonic quality of human axillary odour. Odour samples (cotton pads fixed in both armpits and worn for 12 h) were obtained from healthy female donors across three conditions: i) during their habitual food regime; ii) after 48 h of complete caloric intake restriction (drinking water was provided), and iii) 72 h after restoration of caloric intake. Axillary samples were assessed by male raters regarding their pleasantness, attractiveness, femininity, and intensity. We also collected blood samples to assess physiological changes due to dietary restriction (e.g., glucose, sodium, albumin, and triacylglyceride assays) and anthropometric measurements at the same intervals as body odour samples. We found no differences in pleasantness, attractiveness and intensity between the odour samples collected at baseline and during complete caloric intake restriction. Interestingly, we found that body odours were rated more pleasant, more attractive and less intense after restoration of food intake as compared to the baseline and during caloric restriction. Our results suggest that restoration of food intake positively influences hedonic quality of human body odour which might thus provide cues to current fitness status and metabolic efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitka Fialová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 43, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany 250 67, Czech Republic.
| | - Rudolf Hoffmann
- Medical Clinic Václavka, Musílkova 55, 150 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - S Craig Roberts
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 43, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany 250 67, Czech Republic
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42
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Mahmut MK, Croy I. The role of body odors and olfactory ability in the initiation, maintenance and breakdown of romantic relationships - A review. Physiol Behav 2019; 207:179-184. [PMID: 31077678 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this review is to present direct and indirect lines of converging evidence that highlight the many ways our body odors and sense of smell may influence the three broad stages of romantic relationships; initiation, maintenance and breakdown. This emerging area of study requires a multidisciplinary empirical approach. Here we survey research findings that taken together, suggest that body odor perception moderates mate choice, provides a source of comfort in existing relationships and may signal the breakdown of a relationship through disgust processes. In terms of olfactory ability, having a good sense of smell may facilitate identifying a healthy mate, enhance sexual experiences, relationship security and ensure empathic responsivity, predictors of relationship longevity. We therefore conclude that olfaction plays an important - yet understudied - role in romantic relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet K Mahmut
- Food, Flavour and Fragrance Lab, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
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Development of odour awareness in pre-schoolers: A longitudinal study. Physiol Behav 2019; 204:224-233. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Revised: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Pereira KJ, Varella MAC, Kleisner K, Pavlovič O, Valentova JV. Positive association between facial and vocal femininity/masculinity in women but not in men. Behav Processes 2019; 164:25-29. [PMID: 31002841 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Multicomponent stimuli improve information reception. In women, perceived facial and vocal femininity-masculinity (FM) are concordant; however, mixed results are found for men. Some feminine and masculine traits are related to sex hormone action and can indicate reproductive qualities. However, most of the current research about human mate choice focuses on isolated indicators, especially visual assessment of faces. We therefore examined the cross-modal concordance hypothesis by testing correlations between perceptions of FM based on facial, vocal, and behavioral stimuli. Standardized facial pictures, vocal recordings and dance videos of 38 men and 41 women, aged 18-35 years, were rated by 21 male and 43 female students, aged 18-35 years, on 100-point scale (0 = very feminine; 100 = very masculine). All participants were Brazilian students from University of Sao Paulo. In women, facial and vocal FM correlated positively, suggesting concordant information about mate quality. Such results were not found in men, indicating multiple messages, which agree with women's multifaceted preference for male FM. In both sexes, FM of dance did not correlate with voices or faces, indicating different information and distinct process of development. We thus partially supported the cross-modal concordance hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Janaina Pereira
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | - Karel Kleisner
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Pavlovič
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Oleszkiewicz A, Hummel T. Whose nose does not know? Demographical characterization of people unaware of anosmia. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2019; 276:1849-1852. [PMID: 30989334 PMCID: PMC6529373 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-019-05414-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE For functionally anosmic subjects, the sense of smell is basically useless in daily activities-they are unlikely to detect the threatening smell of rotten food, gas or smoke, or to enjoy the flavor of food or the smell of perfumes. Although this appears very distressing, functionally anosmic subjects in our sample seemed not to be aware or bothered with impaired olfaction and enrolled for the study targeted to people with a normal sense of smell. METHODS In the large sample of 9139 subjects who declared themselves to have a normal sense of smell, we have retrospectively found a notable proportion of scores indicating functional anosmia. RESULTS When we look at the overall Sniffin' Sticks score, 0.45% of the sample was functionally anosmic and this fraction increased to 3.4% when the identification score of 8 points and below was used. We present demographical information of those subjects, who despite their inability to use smell in daily life, consider themselves healthy. CONCLUSIONS Data offer a new perspective on the importance of olfaction in daily life and supports the notion about the importance of using screening tools in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Oleszkiewicz
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, ul. Dawda 1, 50527, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
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46
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Sorokowski P, Karwowski M, Misiak M, Marczak MK, Dziekan M, Hummel T, Sorokowska A. Sex Differences in Human Olfaction: A Meta-Analysis. Front Psychol 2019; 10:242. [PMID: 30814965 PMCID: PMC6381007 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the view that women's olfactory abilities outperform men's is taken for granted, some studies involving large samples suggested that male and female olfactory abilities are actually similar. To address this discrepancy, we conducted a meta-analysis of existing studies on olfaction, targeting possible sex differences. The analyzed sample comprised n = 8 848 (5 065 women and 3 783 men) for olfactory threshold (as measured with the Sniffin Sticks Test; SST), n = 8 067 (4 496 women and 3 571 men) for discrimination (SST), n = 13 670 (7 501 women and 6 169 men) for identification (SST), and a total sample of n = 7 154 (3 866 women and 3 288 men) for works using University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). We conducted separate meta-analyses for each aspect of olfaction: identification, discrimination and threshold. The results of our meta-analysis indicate that women generally outperform men in olfactory abilities. What is more, they do so in every aspect of olfaction analyzed in the current study. However, the effect sizes were weak and ranged between g = 0.08 and g = 0.30. We discuss our findings in the context of factors that potentially shape sex differences in olfaction. Nevertheless, although our findings seem to confirm the "common knowledge" on female olfactory superiority, it needs to be emphasized that the effect sizes we observed were notably small.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michał Misiak
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Martyna Dziekan
- Institute of Psychology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, Poland
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum Geruch und Geschmack, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.,Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Sorokowska A, Pietrowski D, Schäfer L, Kromer J, Schmidt AH, Sauter J, Hummel T, Croy I. Human Leukocyte Antigen similarity decreases partners' and strangers' body odor attractiveness for women not using hormonal contraception. Horm Behav 2018; 106:144-149. [PMID: 30339817 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) is a gene complex that encodes important elements of the human immune system. HLA profile is communicated via olfaction and interindividual diversity is assumed to be advantageous for mate choice. Additionally, HLA diversity appears to enhance satisfaction and sexual attraction in existing romantic partnerships. However, whether this effect is transmitted via body odors and whether it results in an attraction towards HLA-dissimilar individuals and/or an avoidance of HLA-similar ones remains unclear. In the present study, we genotyped couples and asked each participant to rate a body odor sample from their partner and from three strangers of the opposite sex who expressed a similar or dissimilar HLA-B and HLA-C genotype. We found no statistically significant preference for HLA similarity or dissimilarity in men. Among women, the observed effects differed depending on hormonal contraception status. Like men, women on hormonal contraception did not exhibit significant HLA-related preferences. However, for women not using hormonal contraceptives, odors from HLA-B and HLA-C similar donors were significantly less attractive than those from HLA-dissimilar donors, regardless of whether the samples were from a partner or a stranger. Our findings support the hypothesis that HLA similarity is perceived via body odors and that such similarity affects human attraction. This mechanism may serve an evolutionarily adaptive function in preventing prospective offspring from having decreased immunocompetence, or decreasing the chance of kin mating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Smell & Taste Research Lab, Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, pl. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Diana Pietrowski
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Jana Kromer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | | | - Jürgen Sauter
- DKMS German Bone Marrow Donor Center, Kressbach 1, 72072 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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48
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Olfactory Awareness and the Self-Reported Importance of Olfactory Information in Romantic Interest. CHEMOSENS PERCEPT 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12078-018-9248-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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49
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Sorokowska A, Oleszkiewicz A, Sorokowski P. A Compensatory Effect on Mate Selection? Importance of Auditory, Olfactory, and Tactile Cues in Partner Choice among Blind and Sighted Individuals. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:597-603. [PMID: 29396613 PMCID: PMC5834579 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1156-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Human attractiveness is a potent social variable, and people assess their potential partners based on input from a range of sensory modalities. Among all sensory cues, visual signals are typically considered to be the most important and most salient source of information. However, it remains unclear how people without sight assess others. In the current study, we explored the relative importance of sensory modalities other than vision (smell, touch, and audition) in the assessment of same- and opposite-sex strangers. We specifically focused on possible sensory compensation in mate selection, defined as enhanced importance of modalities other than vision among blind individuals in their choice of potential partners. Data were obtained from a total of 119 participants, of whom 78 were blind people aged between 16 and 65 years (M = 42.4, SD = 12.6; 38 females) and a control sample of 41 sighted people aged between 20 and 64. As hypothesized, we observed a compensatory effect of blindness on auditory perception. Our data indicate that visual impairment increases the importance of audition in different types of social assessments for both sexes and in mate choice for blind men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, Haus 5, Keller, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Anna Oleszkiewicz
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, Haus 5, Keller, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland
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50
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Alves-Oliveira P, Carvalho J, Ferreira J, Alho L, Nobre P, Olsson MJ, Soares SC. Influence of Body Odors and Gender on Perceived Genital Arousal. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:661-668. [PMID: 29247299 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-1091-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Olfaction is often linked to mating behavior in nonhumans. Additionally, studies in mating behavior have shown that women seem to be more affected by odor cues than men. However, the relationship between odor cues and sexual response-specifically, sexual arousal-has not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the exposure to human body odors (from individuals of the opposite gender) on perceived genital arousal, while these were presented concomitantly to sexually explicit video clips. Eighty university students (40 women) rated their perceived genital arousal (perceived degree of erection/genital lubrication) in response to an audiovisual sexual stimulus, while simultaneously exposed to a body odor from an opposite-gender donor or no odor. Participants also rated each odor sample's (body odor and no odor) perceived pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity. Findings indicated that odor condition had an effect on women's (but not men's) perceived genital arousal, with women showing higher levels of perceived genital arousal in the no odor condition. Also, results showed that women rated body odors as less pleasant than no odor. Notwithstanding, the odor ratings do not seem to explain the association between body odor and perceived genital arousal. The current results support the hypothesis that women, rather than men, are sensitive to odors in the context of sexual response. The findings of this study have relevance for the understanding of human sexuality with respect to chemosensory communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Alves-Oliveira
- Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), CIS-IUL, 1600-077, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores - Investigação e Desenvolvimento, Porto Salvo, Portugal
| | - Joana Carvalho
- Escola de Psicologia e Ciências da Vida, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Centro de Psicologia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Jacqueline Ferreira
- Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Laura Alho
- Escola de Psicologia e Ciências da Vida, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Psicologia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Nobre
- Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mats J Olsson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Sandra C Soares
- Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
- William James Center for Research, ISPA University Institute, Lisbon, Portugal
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