Hey! Did you just sniff my hair?
How pheromones affect your brain
Pheromones are a special class of chemicals, which are produced and released by your body. They may have the power to affect the behavior of those around you, especially as it relates to social interactions.
Pheromones are believed by many to play a big part in human coupling. After all, one of the first questions you ask yourself when you go on a date is: “Do we have any chemistry?” More scientifically: Pheromones could play a role in mate selection by signaling genetic compatibility, especially in terms of complementary immune systems. This compatibility, in turn, would imply the potential to produce healthier and more resilient offspring.
What’s more, human pheromones are known to wend their way up into the brain. The first stop is the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex (the smelling centers of the brain). From there, pheromones travel to the emotion regulating areas of the brain. It is generally believed that pheromones exert influence on emotion and social behavior via the limbic system (amygdala and related brain structures). Brain imaging (such as PET scans) suggest pheromones also affect a region of the brain that controls hormonal and homeostatic functions (the hypothalamus). Homeostasis, by the way, has to do with body temperature, heart rate and the like. Some studies indicate pheromones alter the function of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which is associated with decision-making and emotional processing, particularly in response to social cues.
Men produce a pheromone called androstadienone, a testosterone derived natural steroid. Androstadienone is primarily encountered in male sweat (and is also found, to a lesser degree, in saliva and semen). Its role in human chemical communication is still being elucidated. Studies suggest it may exert influence on women in multiple domains. Researchers report increased cortisol levels, enhanced attention to emotional stimuli, improved mood and increased social attraction. Pheromones may heighten arousal and alertness, as evidenced by changes in autonomic responses like skin conductance and heart rate. Androstadienone may also subtly influence perceptions of attractiveness or trustworthiness. Though pheromones are typically odorless, they can be detected subconsciously via the olfactory (smell) regions of the brain.
Women produce estratetraenol, a steroidal pheromone derived from estrogen. It is found primarily in female urine and sweat. Studies suggest estratetraenol affects men in multiple ways. Estratetraenol is associated with mood enhancement, stress relief, and a “feel-good” effect. It fosters cooperative behavior, chivalry, and affection, creating an aura of femininity that may encourage protective or nurturing responses. Estratetraenol exerts a calming influence on men, potentially increasing empathy and cooperative tendencies, which may enhance interpersonal harmony. Estratetraenol increases men’s preference for larger, delayed sexual rewards over immediate smaller ones, indicating heightened mating motivation.
More recent research suggests another avenue for female pheromone expression. Crying! In 2023, a multinational group of researchers explored whether a mysterious chemical signal in a woman’s tears may alter behavior in men. The scientists did something awful and made a bunch of ladies cry (the cads!) and then collected their tears in tiny vials. They then filled up similar vials with salt water. The examined tears and salt water were both odorless.
Next, the intrepid researchers recruited a cohort of men. Half of the men had salt water squirted up their noses, the rest had women’s tears sprayed into their nostrils. The men were then subjected to aggressiveness tests and brain scans (fMRI). ((Probably pretty ornery after the intra-nasal assault)). The scientists discovered that women’s tears reduced aggressiveness in the men. What’s more, the heart rates of volunteers who were exposed to women’s tears remained more steady. fMRI revealed that women’s tears affected men’s brain function. Decreased activity was observed in brain regions linked to aggression (such as the amygdala) and increased activity seen in executive control regions (like the prefrontal cortex) in the tear-exposed group. In other words, women’s tears influence men’s aggression-control neural pathways. Notably, male tears had no such effect upon male volunteers. ((Probably because boys don’t cry))
And lest you think pheromones are all about getting lucky, let me set the record straight. Scientists have claimed that nipple secretions from lactating mothers may contain pheromones which may trigger innate responses in newborns. That’s not all. Martha McClintock’s pioneering work elucidated the potential role of pheromones in women who live under one roof. She demonstrated that an unnamed chemical in human sweat may foster menstrual cycle synchronization in women living together.
Yeah, there’s a lot left to learn about pheromones! There are also a bunch of other aroma’s that affect how your brain works. If you’d like to learn more, check out https://brain2mind.substack.com/p/which-is-the-finest-of-the-flavors?utm_source=publication-search