I’ve always found pheromones to be
an interesting topic, pheromones are chemicals released by an animal that
affects the behaviors of a member in the same species, pheromones are picked up
by vomeronasal organ (VNO) which is separate from the olfactory receptors but
near them. VNO respond constantly to pheromones, while olfactory receptors get
used to the smell after a while so you don’t seem to notice it. Compared to
other species, we humans have very little VNO’s, because we hardly use them so
we don’t need as many receptors as other species do.
Pheromones effects on behavior are
at the unconscious level, in other words most people can’t smell pheromones but
yet they react to it, pheromones even take a role in picking a partner, because
the immune system affects our pheromones, people can find a more suited
partner, genetically, that way the off springs have a better immune system
hence higher chances of surviving according to this article.
Pheromones seem to affect more
females than males, exposure of chemical from the opposite sex seemed to have
some effects on the subjects, like the changing of skin temperature, other
autonomic responses, and increased activity on the hypothalamus. Some studies
have found that when females are near ovulation, it increases the release of
testosterone on males near by and that the smell of a man causes a release in
cortisol for women, other studies have shown that when women are near each
other, example they live together, they get on the same menstruating cycle, if
they are not on contraceptives.
