Pheromones

Question 1

Pheromone

Answer 1

a chemical messenger that communicates
information (such as fertility or sexual attractiveness)
from one member of a species to another member of the same species

Question 2

Putative human pheromone

Answer 2

A chemical substance
that is hypothesized to be a human pheromone such as
androstadienone (AND) and estratetraenol (EST)

Question 3

Where are pheromones processed in animals?

Answer 3

They are processed in the accessory olfactory bulb in
animals, but whether or not there exists a biological
mechanism to process pheromones in humans is unclear.

Question 4

Key difference between pheromones and hormones and neurotransmitter

Answer 4

They communicate information from one member of a species to another rather than internally

Question 5

Where in the brain are pheromones processed

Answer 5

Mammals have a structure called the vomeronasal
organ (VNO) located in their nasal cavity. This structure
is connected through nerves to the brain region called the
accessory olfactory bulb. This region is adjacent to, but
separate from, the brain area responsible for processing
regular smells, the main olfactory bulb

Question 6

Processing pheromonal information in the
human brain

Answer 6

Human fetuses have the accessory olfactory bulb, but it
regresses and disappears after birth. As for the VNO, some
people have it and some don’t. Even in those people who
do have it, it appears to be disconnected from the nervous
system. However, there is still a possibility that pheromonal
information in humans is processed elsewhere.
Two chemicals that have been extensively studied as putative
human pheromones are androstadienone (AND) and
estratetraenol (EST).

Question 7

Research is inconclusive

Answer 7

It must be admitted that research is inconclusive and the
existence of human pheromones is not a scientically
established fact.

Question 8

Androstadienone (AND)

Answer 8

Derivative of testosterone. Male putative pheromone. Human steroid, is in semen and sweat & activates hypothalamus in homosexual males but not in heterosexual males and homosexual females

Question 9

Estratetraenol

Answer 9

Derivative of oestrogen, steroid, female putative pheromone. Activates hypothalamus in lesbians and straight men but not in straight women and gay men

Question 10

Researchers

Answer 10

Zhou, Wedekind