Mutic Smiljana, Moellers Eileen M, Wiesmann Martin, Freiherr Jessica
Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen Aachen, Germany.
Front Psychol. 2016 Jan 20;6:1980. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01980. eCollection 2015.
Human body odor is a source of important social information. In this study, we explore whether the sex of an individual can be established based on smelling axillary odor and whether exposure to male and female odors biases chemosensory and social perception. In a double-blind, pseudo-randomized application, 31 healthy normosmic heterosexual male and female raters were exposed to male and female chemosignals (odor samples of 27 heterosexual donors collected during a cardio workout) and a no odor sample. Recipients rated chemosensory samples on a masculinity-femininity scale and provided intensity, familiarity and pleasantness ratings. Additionally, the modulation of social perception (gender-neutral faces and personality attributes) and affective introspection (mood) by male and female chemosignals was assessed. Male and female axillary odors were rated as rather masculine, regardless of the sex of the donor. As opposed to the masculinity bias in the odor perception, a femininity bias modulating social perception appeared. A facilitated femininity detection in gender-neutral faces and personality attributes in male and female chemosignals appeared. No chemosensory effect on mood of the rater was observed. The results are discussed with regards to the use of male and female chemosignals in affective and social communication.
人体气味是重要社会信息的一个来源。在本研究中，我们探究是否能通过嗅闻腋窝气味来确定个体的性别，以及接触男性和女性气味是否会影响化学感觉和社会认知。在一项双盲、伪随机应用中，31名嗅觉正常的健康异性恋男性和女性评分者接触了男性和女性化学信号（在一次心血管锻炼期间收集的27名异性捐赠者的气味样本）以及一个无气味样本。接受者根据阳刚-阴柔量表对化学感觉样本进行评分，并给出强度、熟悉度和愉悦度评分。此外，还评估了男性和女性化学信号对社会认知（中性面孔和个性特征）以及情感内省（情绪）的调节作用。无论捐赠者的性别如何，男性和女性的腋窝气味都被评为相当阳刚。与气味感知中的阳刚偏向相反，出现了一种调节社会认知的阴柔偏向。在男性和女性化学信号的中性面孔和个性特征中出现了更容易检测到阴柔特质的情况。未观察到对评分者情绪的化学感觉效应。针对男性和女性化学信号在情感和社会交流中的使用对研究结果进行了讨论。
