bio approach: pheromones Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

pheromone definition:

A

chemical signals emitted by organisms to communicate with others of the same species. they have long fascinated scientists for their potential role in influencing behavior and social interactions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

why have they long fascinated scientists?

A

these signals emitted by organisms to communicate with others of the same species, have long fascinated scientists for their potential role in influencing behaviour and social interactions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

research on pheromones..

A

while extensively studied in animals, the understanding of pheromones’ effects in humans has been met with scepticism due to the absence of a well-defined vomeronasal organ, traditionally associated with pheromone detection.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

recent research

A

nonetheless, recent research, exemplified by a study conducted by Zhou et al. (2014), sheds light on the subtle yet significant impact of pheromones on human behaviour, even in the absence of a functional vomeronasal organ.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

zhou et al (2014) investigated?

A

the effects of two pheromones, Androstadienone (AND) and Estratetraenol (EST), on the perception of gender cues in individuals with different sexual orientations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

why was effects of AND and EST studied and not any other pheromone?

A

AND and EST were chosen because past studies have shown that AND affects perceptions of attractiveness and that AND and EST affect perceptions of gender.

AND and EST have shown to improve mood and focus and modulates biological endpoints as well. a positive mood and heightened focus are important for women’s sexual response and sexual satisfaction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

link to study

A

zhou et al’s (2014) findings not only contribute to our understanding of pheromonal effects in humans but also underscore the intricate interplay between chemical signals and social behaviour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

zhou et al. (2014) aim -

A

to see the effect of AND and EST on heterosexual and homosexual men and women.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

zhou et al. (2014) sample -

A

four groups of healthy non-smokers including: 24 heterosexual males, 24 heterosexual females, 24 homosexual males, and 24 bisexual or homosexual females.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

zhou et al. (2014) procedure -

A

P were presented with a point-light walker task (PLW), a set of dots that move in a way that represents the properties of human motion.

P were asked to observe the stick figure in motion and identify its sex. they performed the task at around the same time of the day on three consecutive days while being continuously exposed to either: Androstadienone mixed with cloves, Estratetraenol mixed with cloves, Control solution mixed with cloves.

task was only carried out while smelling one of the solutions each day. the scents were counterbalanced to control for order effects.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

zhou et al. (2014) results -

A

researchers found that when heterosexual females and gay males were exposed to AND, they had a higher rate of identifying the stick figure as “masculine” than the control group. AND had no significant effect on heterosexual men or lesbian women.

by contrast, smelling EST systematically biases heterosexual males toward perceiving the walkers as more feminine. the effect was not statistically significant in bisexual and lesbian women.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

conclusion -

A

the study suggests that pheromones like AND and EST influence how people perceive gender cues. this supports the idea that pheromones can affect human behaviour, even in the absence of a functional vomeronasal organ.

despite lacking the anatomical ability to detect pheromones traditionally, individuals still demonstrated altered perceptions of gender when exposed to these chemicals. thus highlighting the potential role of pheromones in shaping social interactions and mate selection.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly