TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological effects of musky compounds
T2 - Comparison of androstadienone with androstenol and muscone
AU - Jacob, Suma
AU - Garcia, Sheila
AU - Hayreh, Davinder
AU - McClintock, Martha K.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Previously, we have shown that Δ4, 16-androstadien-3-one modulates psychological state, reducing negative mood and increasing positive mood (Jacob and McClintock, 2000; Jacob et al., 2001a). In order to determine whether similar musky compounds also produce these effects, we compared the effects of androstadienone to those of androstenol and muscone, measuring the psychological states of 37 participants. Androstenol and muscone were chosen because they too have a musky odor at high concentrations, while androstenol is a steroid like androstadienone and muscone is not. In a controlled laboratory setting, we conducted a double-blind, within-subject, repeated-measures experiment counterbalanced for order of presentation. Under each participant's nose, a nanomolar amount of each compound was presented, masked by clove oil to minimize perceptible olfactory differences. Participants completed a baseline psychological battery and twice again at 25-min intervals after exposure. Androstadienone's effects on psychological state were unique in comparison with those of androstenol and with muscone. Exposure through passive inhalation, rather than dermal contact, was sufficient for these effects. Although this is additional evidence that androstadienone may be a pheromone, it is yet to be determined whether humans exude concentrations into the air adequate for social communication or process this chemical information within natural social contexts.
AB - Previously, we have shown that Δ4, 16-androstadien-3-one modulates psychological state, reducing negative mood and increasing positive mood (Jacob and McClintock, 2000; Jacob et al., 2001a). In order to determine whether similar musky compounds also produce these effects, we compared the effects of androstadienone to those of androstenol and muscone, measuring the psychological states of 37 participants. Androstenol and muscone were chosen because they too have a musky odor at high concentrations, while androstenol is a steroid like androstadienone and muscone is not. In a controlled laboratory setting, we conducted a double-blind, within-subject, repeated-measures experiment counterbalanced for order of presentation. Under each participant's nose, a nanomolar amount of each compound was presented, masked by clove oil to minimize perceptible olfactory differences. Participants completed a baseline psychological battery and twice again at 25-min intervals after exposure. Androstadienone's effects on psychological state were unique in comparison with those of androstenol and with muscone. Exposure through passive inhalation, rather than dermal contact, was sufficient for these effects. Although this is additional evidence that androstadienone may be a pheromone, it is yet to be determined whether humans exude concentrations into the air adequate for social communication or process this chemical information within natural social contexts.
KW - Chemosignals
KW - Mood
KW - Musky compounds
KW - Odor
KW - Pheromone
KW - Steroids
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036449380&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1006/hbeh.2002.1826
DO - 10.1006/hbeh.2002.1826
M3 - Article
C2 - 12460587
AN - SCOPUS:0036449380
SN - 0018-506X
VL - 42
SP - 274
EP - 283
JO - Hormones and Behavior
JF - Hormones and Behavior
IS - 3
ER -