Roger N

Date

3/09/04

Scent has been long associated with memory and emotions, but scientific research has shown that scent is also strongly associated with human attraction. Principally through pheromones, airborne signals between two species, the reception of scent can cause an automatic release of chemicals associated with the feeling of attraction. With this website, we will explore how pheromones are released from one human and picked up by another, and how the reception of pheromones physiologically affect the body. Supported by research conducted by many universities and accredited sources, we will show how smells can be sexy.

What are pheromones? Pheromones are odorless, airborne molecules that are released from one member of a species to another. These glandular secretions signal sexual readiness or willingness. Evidence has clearly indicated that pheromone systems exist in insects, but the question of whether humans have these systems has been harder to answer. This mystery could be caused by our adapted human ways. We may emit sexual pheromones, yet choose to suppress them with deodorant, shampoos, soap, and while undoing our DNA designed sexual identity, create new ones by using perfumes and colognes. So, what really makes us so different from other animals? Humans fall in love, commit to one another and plan to grow together, not just mate. It all begins with physical attraction, which starts with signals being fired from the hippocampus. Fortunately, evolution has created “barriers” around the hippocampus keeping us from jumping on anyone at any time when we feel attracted to him or her. The hippocampus is also responsible for setting off our rockets when we see someone who is “hot” and it reinforces our desire to physically unite with that person at any cost.

Many years ago, researchers discovered a small organ in the nose of livestock called the vomeronasal organ or VNO. Researchers found that this organ was directly responsible for stimulating the pheromone response. This was significant because it demonstrated that the pheromone effect was not one of conditioned learning, but instead was direct. Eventually, the VNO was also found in humans, but there are various opinions as to how effective the human VNO is. Scientists are not entirely certain if the perceived human VNO has any nerve connections to the brain. Electron microscopy reveals that the epithelium contains two kinds of cells, which may be sensory cells - some microvillar cells and some unmyelinated, intra-epithelial axons (Stensaas, 1991). This could prove that the VNO is not vestigial and is actually a functional organ in humans, although the basis of this has not been proven, only inferred. There is little doubt that the human VNO is not as functional as in livestock such as pigs and cows, however. This could be due to differences in the sense of smell between species.

http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~bredelin/vno.html

http://web.sfn.org/content/Publications/BrainBriefings/pheromones.html

There have been many experiments pertaining to pheromones and the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Dr. David Berliner found that when he left vials with skin extracts in them open in his lab, his lab assistants became much friendlier. After a few months, when he decided to close the vials, he noted that the friendly behavior diminished. Also, researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia studied the effects of male odors on the hormone levels of females. They found that the length and timing of the menstrual cycle are very much influenced by male underarm odors. They thought the response could be linked to an observation that females living around men have a more regular cycle.

One study conducted about thirty years ago supports the existence of pheromones. The study experimented with women and menstrual cycle synchronization. The results concluded that if women are exposed to body odors of other women their menstrual cycles will either speed up or slow down depending on where they are in their cycle. Today we are not completely sure what the purpose is of menstrual synchronization in humans but we are sure of their importance in mammals. Mammals must synchronize their breeding periods to increase the chances of the survival of their young.

Oxytocin is a pituitary hormone that flourishes in the limbic part of the brain. It is one of the many great chemical love magicians that work on our bodies. Touch is the greatest oxytocin stimulant. The more we touch the more oxytocin is released and the more we become aroused. The most common oxytocin stimulating areas in both sexes are in the breasts, neck, earlobes and lips. When mixed with the male hormone testosterone, oxytocin causes an erection. When mixed with female hormone estrogen, oxytocin causes uterine contractions. During orgasm, oxytocin is released from the pituitary gland and lowers blood pressure, desensitizing us to pain and stress. After orgasm, oxytocin makes us want to cuddle and bond. So let oxytocin work its magic – just relax and don’t let the logical thinking part of your brain, the neo-cortex, and oxytocin’s counter-chemical, adrenaline, ruin a good orgasm and the tranquilizing effect of intimacy.