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Featured ArticleFeatured ArticleBrief Communications

Smelling a Single Component of Male Sweat Alters Levels of Cortisol in Women

Claire Wyart, Wallace W. Webster, Jonathan H. Chen, Sarah R. Wilson, Andrew McClary, Rehan M. Khan and Noam Sobel
Journal of Neuroscience 7 February 2007, 27 (6) 1261-1265; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4430-06.2007
Claire Wyart
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Wallace W. Webster
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Jonathan H. Chen
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Sarah R. Wilson
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Andrew McClary
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Rehan M. Khan
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Noam Sobel
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Abstract

Rodents use chemosignals to alter endocrine balance in conspecifics. Although responses to human sweat suggest a similar mechanism in humans, no particular component of human sweat capable of altering endocrine balance in conspecifics has yet been isolated and identified. Here, we measured salivary levels of the hormone cortisol in women after smelling pure androstadienone (4,16-androstadien-3-one), a molecule present in the sweat of men that has been suggested as a chemosignal in humans. We found that merely smelling androstadienone maintained significantly higher levels of the hormone cortisol in women. These results suggest that, like rodents, humans can influence the hormonal balance of conspecifics through chemosignals. Critically, this study identified a single component of sweat, androstadienone, as capable of exerting such influence. This result points to a potential role for synthetic human chemosignals in clinical applications.

  • pheromones
  • hormones
  • chemosignals
  • human
  • olfaction
  • cortisol
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The Journal of Neuroscience: 27 (6)
Journal of Neuroscience
Vol. 27, Issue 6
7 Feb 2007
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Smelling a Single Component of Male Sweat Alters Levels of Cortisol in Women
Claire Wyart, Wallace W. Webster, Jonathan H. Chen, Sarah R. Wilson, Andrew McClary, Rehan M. Khan, Noam Sobel
Journal of Neuroscience 7 February 2007, 27 (6) 1261-1265; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4430-06.2007

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Smelling a Single Component of Male Sweat Alters Levels of Cortisol in Women
Claire Wyart, Wallace W. Webster, Jonathan H. Chen, Sarah R. Wilson, Andrew McClary, Rehan M. Khan, Noam Sobel
Journal of Neuroscience 7 February 2007, 27 (6) 1261-1265; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4430-06.2007
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