Pheromones in birds, other mammals, and us

PherX™ currently sponsors misinformation about pheromones available here:

“pheromone Any chemical compound secreted by an organism in minute amounts to elicit a particular reaction from other organisms of the same species. Pheromones are widespread among insects and vertebrates (except birds) and are present in some fungi, slime molds, and algae.”

Caro and Balthazart (2010) state conclusively that “…if we stay with the original definition of pheromones proposed by Karlson and Luscher (see ‘‘Introduction’’), it now seems highly probable, if not established, that such pheromones do exist in birds…. Avian pheromones are probably not a myth; they just need to be investigated.” (more…)

Study design| Psychophysics experiment | Perspective on conditioning

Our research shows that a mixture of human pheromones influences women’s flirtatious behavior and self-reported level of attraction to a man during a 15-minute long videotaped interaction. We based our experimental design on aspects of biologically based behavior that are common across species from yeasts to other primates.

Our design has been criticized by researchers who challenge the very obvious generalizations that are due to very low biological variability across different species of organisms. These challenges persist even though it is widely known and generally accepted that in species that sexually reproduce olfactory/pheromonal input from the environment is more important to survival than is any other form of sensory input.

For those who are not experts, it makes better sense for me to say that — in common sense terms — the chemical senses are common to all animal species. (more…)

Excellent new book about pheromones

The Emperor of Scent (revisited)

Luca Turin, is the title character in a book I reviewed: The Emperor of Scent: A Story of Perfume, Obsession and the Last Mystery of the Senses by Chandler Burr New York: Random House (2003).  Reviewed by James Vaughn Kohl, Aurora, CO, USA.

It does not surprise me that this article about his work “Quantum explanation for how we smell gets new support” reads somewhat like my book review. It takes many years to gain acceptance — even of the most obvious of new concepts. No matter the logic, the concept could still be wrong. And who is willing to risk their academic reputation by siding with someone who might be wrong? If he’s right, however, there’s always time to begin support — when others do so.

Dr. Turin was kind enough to contact me after he read my review and he politely responded specifically to my comments about publication in Nature. I wrote:

“Publication in a prestigious journal like Nature, is a lofty goal — one that is beyond the grasp of most previously unpublished academics,  despite their credentials. Turin thinks that the deck is stacked against him, personally. A pointless year-long battle between Turin, reviewers,  and members of the Nature publication staff ensues.” (p. 150)

He told me that he had published in this prestigious journal in 1977. Carbon dioxide reversibly abolishes ionic communication between cells of early amphibian embryo. Turin L, Warner A. Nature. 1977 Nov 3;270(5632):56-7.

I hope he has the opportunity to do so, again — perhaps, without the battle. Much more is at stake than the development of better electronic noses.

Pheromones, reproduction, love, neurogenesis

The idea that pheromones are important to the development of differences in brain tissue is detailed in my book chapter. As is consistent with what is known about the neuroendocrinology of reproduction, the role of gonadotropin releasing hormone-directed luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion is central to the processes decribed in this recent article, which is a welcome addition to the current knowledge base on mammalian pheromones, including human pheromones.

Reproduction: A New Venue for Studying Function of Adult Neurogenesis?

pp. 21-35(15)  Cell Transplantation, Volume 20, Number 1 Authors: Lau, Benson Wui-Man; Yau, Suk-Yu; So, Kwok-Fai

Free PDF

Abstract: Adult neurogenesis has been a focus within the past few years because it is a newly recognized form of neuroplasticity that may play significant roles in behaviors and recovery process after disease. Mammalian adult neurogenesis could be found in two brain regions: hippocampus and subventricular zone (SVZ). While it is well established that hippocampal neurogenesis participates in memory formation and anxiety, the physiological function of SVZ neurogenesis is still under intense investigation. Recent studies disclose that SVZ neurogenesis is under regulation of reproductive cues like pheromones. Reciprocally, the newborn neurons may exert their effect on reproductive and maternal behaviors. This review discusses recent understanding of the interrelationship between neurogenesis and reproduction. The studies highlighted in this review illustrate the potential importance of neurogenesis in reproductive function and will provide new insights for the significance of adult neurogenesis.

From the conclusion: “Experiment from different species demonstrated the regulatory effects of pheromones and sexual interaction on brain neurogenesis; however, the functional significance of new neurons in reproduction needs to be further clarified.”

Social selection: genetic contribution of viruses to life on earth

The positive genetic contributions of viruses to life on Earth will be explored by researchers at the University of Delaware and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute through a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Marine Microbiology Initiative.

As I noted earlier, science fiction author Greg Bear successfully predicted the involvement of specific viruses in speciation (read Darwin’s Radio and Darwin’s Children). This new report attests to the likelihood that the mechanisms may someday be found. Bear’s concept of viral induction of species evolution — with further consideration given after reading this article — also sheds light on differences between what most people call “natural” selection and what some people are beginning to call “social” selection. (more…)

Pheromones, reproduction, love, neurogenesis

Reproduction: A New Venue for Studying Function of Adult Neurogenesis?
pp. 21-35(15)  Cell Transplantation, Volume 20, Number 1 Authors: Lau, Benson Wui-Man; Yau, Suk-Yu; So, Kwok-Fai

Free PDF http://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/deliver/connect/cog/09636897/v20n1/s4.pdf?expires=1299897616&id=61681746&titleid=5476&accname=Guest+User&checksum=A62AE3EA0F93C3A5A2B64ADEB94A6FF0

Abstract: Adult neurogenesis has been a focus within the past few years because it is a newly recognized form of neuroplasticity that may play significant roles in behaviors and recovery process after disease. Mammalian adult neurogenesis could be found in two brain regions: hippocampus and subventricular zone (SVZ). While it is well established that hippocampal neurogenesis participates in memory formation and anxiety, the physiological function of SVZ neurogenesis is still under intense investigation. Recent studies disclose that SVZ neurogenesis is under regulation of reproductive cues like pheromones. Reciprocally, the newborn neurons may exert their effect on reproductive and maternal behaviors. This review discusses recent understanding of the interrelationship between neurogenesis and reproduction. The studies highlighted in this review illustrate the potential importance of neurogenesis in reproductive function and will provide new insights for the significance of adult neurogenesis.

From the conclusion: Experiment from different species demonstrated the regulatory effects of pheromones and sexual interaction on brain neurogenesis; however, the functional significance of new neurons in reproduction needs to be further clarified.

Dogs and humans: Then and now

It may interest some people to learn the amount of time it takes for new concepts, like the concept of human pheromones, to be accepted.  During the past two decades I have repeatedly seen others mention how the human sense of smell does not compare well with the sense of smell in other mammals. Typically, dogs are mentioned as an example – not because they are a good example, but because most people think they are. With such thoughts in mind, it is no wonder that some people think that human pheromones don’t exist. Of course human pheromones exist! How could they not, regardless of what anyone thinks?

THEN (more than 2 decades ago): Dobb, E. (1989) The scents around us. Sciences, November‑December, 46‑53.

“What human beings lack in acuity… they make up in powers of discrimination, which rival those of any other mammal.”

And NOW

“Dogs have roughly 20 times more olfactory receptor cells than we do and, for tracking purposes, long snouts positioned closer to the ground.  But we don’t have their complex infection-preventing filtering system and so, even with these fewer receptors, more odor molecules get to them.

But we also have our brains as a powerful compensatory device, which means, smell can be associated with emotion, memory, motor reaction and multimodal integration.”

Wikipedia comments by James V. Kohl

I’ve culled these comments from wikipedia as a means to collect some of my thoughts. If ever I can determine how to get permission to edit the wikipedia pages, I will update the information there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pheromone

Definition: In 1959, pheromones were originally defined as “…substances which are secreted to the outside by an individual and received by a second individual of the same species, in which they release a specific reaction, for example, a definite behavior or a developmental process.” Karlson and Luscher. We now know that pheromones can only release a definite behavior that is organized by a developmental process. The developmental process is hormone-mediated, and pheromones cause changes in the levels of hormones that mediate the developmental process. By causing changes in these hormones, pheromones elicit behavioral affects in species from insects to mammals.Jvkohl (talk) 03:42, 21 December 2010 (UTC)

Human Pheromones: The fact that human pheromones exist is made obvious by the fact that pheromones exist in all species that sexually reproduce. There is no more need to verify that a particular chemical or mixture of chemicals act as human pheromones, than there is to verify that particular food odors stimulate appetite. In this regard, my colleague Richard L. Doty misrepresents my original concept of pheromones when he indicates it infers “… that a plurality of mammalian behaviors and endocrine responses is uniquely determined in an invariant way by single or small sets of chemical stimuli….” (p. 3) of “The Great Pheromone Myth”. Is any response to food odor uniquely determined in an invariant way by single or small sets of chemicals in food? Is any response to any sensory stimulus uniquely determined in an invariant way by anything? Take some time to think, please.

Products: Now, about those published papers by authors who have launched products that are available over the internet. I am one of them. My award-winning 2001 Neuroendocrinology Letters article with colleagues from Vienna has already been cited. Here’s information on another published article, which is also a book chapter.

Expertise: James V. Kohl received the Ira and Harriet Reiss Theory Award for 2007 from the Foundation for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (FSSS). The award is given annually for the best social science article, chapter, or book published in the previous year in which theoretical explanations of human sexual attitudes and behaviors are developed. “The Mind’s Eyes: Human Pheromones, Neuroscience, and Male Sexual Preferences” was published in the Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 18(4): 313-369, and concurrently published as a book chapter in the “Handbook of the Evolution of Human Sexuality.” In conjunction with the award, Kohl was an invited plenary session speaker at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in November, 2007, which was held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Study Results: I’m not going to edit the information about pheromones because someone would undoubtedly remove what I had written and claim that my commercial interests invalidated my edit. If no other scientists/researchers come forward, it seems likely that there will be no expert information available on this topic in Wikipedia — at least not anytime soon. If our results are replicated that show increased flirtatious behavior and self-reported level of attraction in women exposed to our disclosed mixture, perhaps someone else will take up the cause and present the latest findings. Until then, the attitude here on the talk page seems a bit repressive, albeit understandably so. I don’t like what the marketers have done to the concept, either. But I have not abandoned the concept, and will continue to accurately portray it via other venues. Jvkohl (talk) 03:34, 21 December 2010 (UTC)

‘Effect’ and ‘affect’: Many people seem unaware of the difference between effect and affect with regard to pheromones. For example, correctly stated mammalian pheromones effect hormones that affect behavior. This statement is based the fact that “The interaction between sensory input and hormonal levels appears to be a general rule in endocrine relationships underlying behavior.” Jvkohl (talk) 17:55, 22 November 2010 (UTC) ^[1]

Effectiveness: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15327919 The preceding link is to an article with abstract “…there is no support in data for the claim that the substances increase the attractiveness of the wearers…” that debunks research the Athena Institute uses in their marketing claim: “Effective for 74% in 8 week published scientific study.” –Cycle World, June 2010. I am an expert on this topic, and someone has already posted a link to my award-winning 2001 review article with co-authors from Vienna. see:http://www.nel.edu/22_5/NEL220501R01_Review.htm My 2007 journal article and book chapter also won an award, and the author’s copy has been reproduced for online availability with indexing at http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/BIB/kohl.htm The concept of human pheromones that I first accurately helped to detail in the book: The Scent of Eros: Mysteries of Odor in Human Sexuality, has since been bastardized by hundreds of marketers. Simply put, human pheromones affect behavior by enhancing the appeal of the wearer. The enhanced appeal is due to the conditioning of an associated hormone response during a lifetime of exposure that begins at birth. The mixture of human pheromones that my colleagues and I have shown increases observed flirtatious behavior and self-reported levels of attraction in women, elicits these affects in a manner similar to what “make-up” does for the appeal of women. If our results are independently replicated, publication will dispel the ridiculous marketing claims of animalistic aphrodisiacal affects on human behavior. Human pheromones can help, but they can’t change your personality. Jvkohl (talk) 18:16, 17 November 2010 (UTC)

Science fiction and scientific understanding of pheromones: In his book “Darwin’s Radio” (2000, Ballantine Books) and his sequel “Darwin’s Children” (2004, Del Rey), science fiction author and novelist Greg Bear successfully predicted that human endogenous retroviruses are involved in primate speciation. His new subspecies of human being communicated with pheromones, as do other species from yeasts to non-human primates. This example of science fiction becoming fact contributes to a scientific understanding of human pheromones via a forward-thinking author’s grasp of molecular biology and his willingness to take the next logical step for his readers. Other fictional representations of human pheromones must also have some basis in fact; enough to be included on Wikipedia, if only to encourage forward-thinking by others. Indeed, in his November 2003 presentation before the American Philosophical Society, Greg Bear said: “What we [science fiction writers] write is far from authoritative, or final, but science fiction works best when it stimulates debate.”

Moving forward as he spoke about epigenetic influences, he also said that chemical signals between organisms can change genetic expression. This allows the social environment to modify genetic expression in individuals and in their offspring. A decade has passed since Bear’s conceptualization of how pheromones might exert a powerful epigenetic influence on other species and on us. Those who are familiar with current works from molecular biology can now more fully recognize that Greg Bear was at least a decade ahead of his time. To a lesser degree, so were my co-authors and I when we wrote about epigenetic influences and pheromones in 1996. The take home message that’s available through the integration of science fiction and scientific fact is that pheromones may be the most significant epigenetic influence of all. We are beginning to see this more clearly after our species sequenced the human genome and proceeds to learn more about epigenetic facts predicted by science fiction.Jvkohl (talk) 17:33, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Adrenarche and odor preferences

Many years ago, my research on fetishes associated with odor prompted me to look for developmental correlates prior to their manifestation with puberty. Yesterday, I was prompted to review some of the information I had found. According to Marco Del Giudice [sexnet 3/2/11] “…the typical age of adrenarche is about 6 to 8 years, with 7 a reasonable mean.” He also indicated that the age of onset of fetishes converges on the 6-8 range.

I vaguely recall reading that the odor preferences of children begin to change from flowery to musky at about the same time that musky natural body odor production begins, which is with adrenarche (from age 6 to 8). Taken together, it is this information that is supported by the following references that helps to explain how odors are involved in the development of attraction. (more…)