Why do some males smell better than others? Scientists at Cardiff University, in collaboration with colleagues at Max-Plank Society, Germany – and the help of stickleback fish – have identified the chemical responsible.
The researchers found in a study of sticklebacks, that males with body odour that is particularly attractive to females produce small protein fragments (known as “peptides”).
To prove this, the researchers produced a synthetic “perfume” containing a mixture of protein fragments. By manipulating the combination of fragments in the perfume, the sexual attractiveness of males could be increased. In the experiment none of the females being tested could see the males. Even males previously rejected by females were rendered irresistible after the synthetic perfume had been applied.
Dr. John Grohol is the founder & CEO of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.Like this author?
Catch up on other posts by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. (or subscribe to their feed).
Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 23 Mar 2005
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.
Grohol, J. (2005). Love at First Smell. Psych Central. Retrieved on May 20, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2005/03/23/love-at-first-smell/
