Pheromones are chemicals that send signals to
other members of the same species. These signals could serve many
purposes such as marking out territory (As dogs and cats do) or to mark
a food trail (How ants all seem to converge on the same food source) or
to send alarm signals warning other members of the species of impending
danger.
However, the most widely known purpose and the one
which has always attracted the most attention is the use of pheromones
as a means of sexual attraction. Pheromones as a sexual attractant were
identified as far back as 1956 when scientists extracted a compound
from certain glands on the abdomen of the silkworm moth. This pheromone
which they named bombykol was found to have an amazing effect on male
silkworm moths. When exposed to it they immediately went into a
frenzied "flutter dance".
But do pheromones work in the world of mammals as
well? Studies done on hamsters and rats certainly seem to suggest they
do. These studies also suggested that pheromones do not act directly on
the normal olfactory senses. They do involve smells but they seem to
act through a very specific channel.
Researchers believe that the vomeronasal organs
are instrumental in picking up these specialized signals. The
vomeronasal organs or VNO's are tiny cigar-shaped organs found in the
nostrils which appear to communicate directly with the parts of the
brain that control reproduction and parenting behavior.
That's all very well but do these same mechanisms
of attraction and behavior modification apply to the most complex of
mammals – man himself? This has long been debated. Sense of smell is
perhaps one of human beings least used senses and given the world we
live in we perhaps need to rely on it less for survival than other
primitive mammals.
On the other hand a multi-billion dollar worldwide
perfume industry is ample proof of the importance that most of us place
on odors and perhaps the lengths to which we go to mask what we
consider to be undesirable smells. But do humans have naturally
occurring pheromones which impact on the lives of others in the species?
Several studies have shown promising results. Dr.
Winifred Cutler, a biologist and behavioral endocrinologist, found
pheromones present in underarm secretions. She also found that women
who had regular sex with men had more regular menstrual cycles.
Pheromones which had been identified in the under arms of men
contributed significantly to this outcome.
Another notable study was conducted by Martha
Mclintock in the 1970's when she observed that the menstrual cycles of
groups of women who lived together tended to become synchronized.
Further study revealed the startling fact that it was exposure to
pheromones from other women which caused the changes in cycle.
Test subjects were exposed to sweat samples
collected from other women. Their menstrual cycles slowed down or sped
up depending on the time of month when the samples had been collected.
The implications of this discovery for treatment of infertility or even
contraception are obviously extremely exciting and it has been
suggested that pheromones could also be used to alter mood and
alleviate depression and stress.
Pheromones are also likely to be the scientific
basis of the romantic concept of "chemistry" between individuals – that
feeling of an instant attraction and connection with certain people.
There is also evidence that we seek out mates whose immune systems
complement ours. In other words we are instinctively attracted to
people whose immune systems are most different from our own. This
ensures the production of the strongest and healthiest offspring. Our
instinctive actions are based on the pheromonal signals we pick up.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/discover-
pheromones-and-their-effects-on-the-opposite-sex-49501.html About the Author
In tests of pheromone effectiveness, it has been
found that 74% of subjects testing a pheromone product experienced an
”increase in hugging, kissing, and sexual intercourse.” To learn more
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