Pheromones Flashcards
1
Q
What are pheromones?
A
- molecules released by one animal to signal something to another member of the same species
- strongly influence the behaviour of many organisms
2
Q
Do pheromones exist in humans?
A
- their existence in humans is controversial
3
Q
Are behavioural responses to pheromones innate?
A
- yes, they are largely innate
4
Q
What are pheromones used to do?
A
- attract or repel other members of the same species
- signal attractiveness and sexual receptivity
- mark a path to follow
- signal danger
5
Q
Where are pheromones released?
A
- in liquid like urine or tears
6
Q
Where does the initial transduction and processing of pheromones occur in mammals?
A
- in the vomeronasal organ and accessory olfactory bulb
7
Q
Where are the vomeronasal organ and accessory olfactory bulb?
A
- next to but distinct from the regular olfactory epithelium and main olfactory bulb
8
Q
What are the regular olfactory epithelium and main olfactory bulb?
A
- process regular odors
9
Q
What are pheromones detected by?
A
- metabotropic vomeronasal receptors
10
Q
What are metabotropic vomeronasal receptors?
A
- distantly related to the olfactory receptors that detect normal odors
11
Q
Do humans have functional vomeronasal
organs?
A
- humans, apes, and birds do not have functional vomeronasal organs
- only have regular olfactory epithelium that detects normal odors
12
Q
How are pheromones detected?
A
- must be actively sniffed or tasted to be detected
13
Q
What does pheromone detection influence?
A
- sexual behaviour
14
Q
What is female to male pheromone signaling?
A
- how does female urine change male behaviour
- especially powerful
- male mice will only attempt to mate with female mice that are in heat
15
Q
What happens if the male vomeronasal system is damaged?
A
- they try to mate indiscriminately with any mouse, male or female
