Human pheromones

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Human pheromones?
Tamsin K. Saxton, Anthony C. Little, S. Craig
Roberts School of Biological Sciences,
University of Liverpool, UK
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Summary

• 1. Aim of the session today
• 2. What are pheromones?
• 3. Studies on human pheromones
• 4. Pheromones speed-dating

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2. What are pheromones?

• ..substances which are secreted to the outside
  by an individual and received by a second
  individual of the same species, in which they
  release a specific reaction, for example, a
  definite behaviour or a developmental process
  Karlson Luscher, 1959

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2. What are pheromones?

• Primer
• Releaser
• Signaller

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2. What are pheromones?

• In light of these modulatory effects and the
  complexity of human behavior, the function of
  chemosignals and pheromonal systems in a variety
  of species may need to be expanded to include the
  concept of modulators Jacob McClintock, 2000

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3. Human pheromones

• The vomeronasal organ (VNO)

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3. Human pheromones

• Androstenol
• Androstenone
• Androstadienol
• Androstadienone

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Androstadienone evidence

• Neurological effects
• Physiological effects
• Mood effects

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3. Human pheromones

• Pause, B. M. (2004). Are androgen steroids acting
  as pheromones in humans? Physiology and Behavior
  83, 21.

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3. Human pheromones

• Social context
• Ecological validity

Lundström, J. N. Olsson, M. J. (2005).
Subthreshold amounts of social odorant affect
mood, but not behavior, in heterosexual women
when tested by a male, but not a female,
experimenter. Biological Psychology 70, 197-204.
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Summary

• Modulatory effects in the lab
• Real-world contexts?

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4. Pheromones and speed-dating
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4. Statistical analysis
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4. Pheromones and speed-dating
Androstadienone exposure enhances attractiveness
ratings
Bars /- 1 s.e.
Average attractiveness rating
F2,42 20.690, p lt.001
Condition
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Are you convinced?
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What about the other factors that could affect
females ratings?

• Age (p .891)
• Self-rated attractiveness (p .777)
• Other-rated attractiveness (p .469)
• Hormonal status (p .965)

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Are you convinced?
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Study 2
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Study 2 results
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Study 2 results
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Are you convinced?
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Least attractive men affected the most
high p .217
medium p .031
Clove oil
low p .016
Average attractiveness rating
Andro- stadienone
Male attractiveness comparison of average scores
awarded by women exposed to clove oil (red bars)
with those exposed to androstadienone (blue bars)
for low, medium and high attractiveness males
(mean, /- 1 s.e.) .
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Are men differentially affected?