Do Human Pheromones Affect Behavior in Women?

Pheromones were discovered in the late 1950's. Karlson and Luscher (1959) defines pheromones 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." According to Webster's II New Revised Dictionary, a pheromone is "a chemical substance secreted by an animal that influences specific patterns of behavior in other members of the same species."

It is possible that pheromones cause women to choose a certain male partner. This is due to the male "HLA-dependent odor type" that "increases immune diversity."

A study was conducted in Sweden that analyzed the brain scan of two-dozen volunteers. The study showed that "a part of the brain involved in regulating sexual behavior lit up when women were exposed to a substance similar to testosterone." The study reveals "at least some human behaviors may be subliminally influenced by invisible chemicals with no obvious odors."

Women who live in a group menstruate together. Many scientists believe this is a result of pheromones. Smell is not a factor in the sexual activity of males and females. According to the study, sexual activity is caused by something else that triggers the brains of males and females and causes sexual stimulation to occur. This is known to occur in animals but not humans because humans are more complicated. One reason this is a true theory is because "humans have a much larger frontal cortex than most animals and it is the part of the brain that is involved in many higher cognitive functions, including inhibition and self-control."

Mr. Bernard Grosser, chairman of the department of psychiatry at the University of Utah School of Medicine, states that androstadienone, a testosterone substance, "reduces pulse rate, increase temperature and produce relaxation in women in other studies." Also, "other chemicals may be involved in regulating sexual behavior."