The smelly mystery of the human pheromone | Tristram Wyatt

Summary

This script delves into the concept of pheromones, exploring their mysterious and powerful role in animal behavior and human life. While pheromones are often marketed for attraction, the science behind them remains elusive, especially for humans. The script traces the history of pheromone discovery, from silk moths to the role they may play in human puberty and bonding. It highlights challenges in identifying human pheromones, noting the complexity of smell and cultural influences. Ultimately, the speaker emphasizes the need for systematic research to uncover the real effects of pheromones, offering hope for future discoveries with medical potential.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pheromones are a powerful concept often associated with sex and attraction, but the term itself is only 50 years old, coined in 1959.
• 😀 Many products claim to contain pheromones that make people irresistible, but most of these claims lack solid scientific evidence and are based on dubious research.
• 😀 The first pheromone to be identified was a sex pheromone in silk moths, discovered in 1959 by Adolf Butenandt and his team, using a meticulous, systematic approach.
• 😀 Despite ongoing research, there is no conclusive evidence proving the existence of human pheromones, partly due to the complexity of human scent production and the vast number of molecules we release.
• 😀 Humans, like other mammals, produce various smells, particularly as they go through puberty, which changes the body's scent profile.
• 😀 Cultural factors play a significant role in shaping our perceptions of smells, making it difficult to study human pheromones objectively.
• 😀 Every human has a unique sense of smell, influenced by about 400 different types of olfactory receptors and genetic variations.
• 😀 Although armpits are a common area studied for pheromones, they are not the universal site of pheromone production, as 20% of the population, particularly in East Asia, does not produce typical armpit odors.
• 😀 While pheromone research in humans faces challenges, studying different body areas systematically is necessary to discover human-specific pheromones.
• 😀 One promising avenue of research involves the secretion from areolar glands around the nipple, which has been shown to trigger positive responses in infants, suggesting potential pheromone-like effects for mother-child bonding and neonatal care.
• 😀 The systematic approach to identifying pheromones could have broad medical applications, such as improving neonatal survival rates by helping premature babies suckle more effectively.

Q & A

What is the origin of the word 'pheromone' and when was it coined?

The word 'pheromone' was coined in 1959 by a German team led by Adolf Butenandt. It was created to describe chemical signals transferred between individuals that affect behavior, particularly in mating.

What fraudulent claims are commonly associated with pheromones in popular culture?

Many commercial products claim to make people irresistible by using pheromones. These products often rely on scientific-sounding molecules like androstenol, androstenone, or androstadienone, but the claims are unsupported by valid scientific evidence.

Why is it difficult to scientifically prove the existence of human pheromones?

Despite many attempts, human pheromones remain unproven because no comprehensive study has systematically examined all the odors humans produce. Furthermore, the complexity of human olfactory perception and individual differences complicates the research.

What key issue in studying human pheromones is highlighted by the speaker?

One major issue is the cultural influence on smell perception. Humans learn what smells are good or bad based on culture and experience, which makes it difficult to identify universal chemical signals like pheromones.

What example from history does the speaker give to highlight the importance of smell in humans?

The speaker mentions Napoleon, who famously wrote to his lover, Empress Josephine, urging her not to wash before his return, showing how powerful the attraction to smell can be in human relationships.

How does puberty affect human smell, according to the speaker?

Puberty triggers changes in the body, such as the secretion of new glands in areas like the armpits and pubic regions, which alters body odor. This change in smell might indicate the presence of pheromones, but it remains under-researched.

Why do some populations not have the same kind of smelly armpits as others?

Approximately 20% of the world’s population, particularly from regions like East Asia, does not have the odor-producing precursor molecules in their armpits that are common in other populations. This makes armpits less useful as a source for studying human pheromones in these populations.

What approach does the speaker suggest for identifying human pheromones?

The speaker suggests revisiting the method used by Butenandt with the silk moth, where systematic research was conducted to isolate and confirm specific molecules responsible for behavior. A similar approach is needed to investigate human pheromones across the entire body.

What example does the speaker give of promising pheromone research in humans?

The speaker references a study by a French team that identified a potential mammary pheromone in rabbits, and now, they are investigating similar molecules in human mothers. These molecules, secreted by the areolar glands, could play a role in stimulating babies to suckle.

How could identifying pheromones benefit neonatal care, according to the speaker?

If researchers can identify the pheromone molecules involved in the suckling process, it could help premature babies and those struggling to feed by improving their ability to latch on and suckle, which is critical for their survival.