[Daily and seasonal variations in olfactory sensitivity of mothers after parturition and their capacity to discriminate the body odor of their newborn. Preliminary findings].
The present study describes daily and seasonal variations in the discrimination capacities of mothers in relation to their newborn's odour and olfactory detection thresholds of a non specific molecule (thiophene) by mothers. The tests are carried out during the 2nd, 4th and 6th days after the parturition. The results show that the abilities of the mothers to discriminate the odours of their newborn increase gradually from the morning to evening, with the exception of the second part of the 4th day when the mother's performances decrease between 05:30 P.M. and 08:00 P.M. This daily variation is not observed in olfactory thresholds of mothers in relation to thiophene as they decrease between 08:00 A.M. and 01:30 P.M. and increase between 01:30 P.M. and 08:00 P.M. for the three days of test. Nevertheless, seasons, seem to have the same effect about the two types of mothers' performances. The results suggest that the variations in the abilities of the mothers to discriminate the corporal odour of their newborn and the variations of their olfactory thresholds for a non specific odour are based on different biological and psychobiological mechanisms.
Bonnin
F
F
Laboratoire de Psychophysiologie, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon.
Taillard
C
C
Montagner
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D009812:Odorants; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013876:Thiophenes
D013876:Thiophenes
Variations quotidiennes et saisonnières de la sensibilité olfactive des mères après l'accouchement et de leur capacité à discriminer l'odeur corporelle de leur nouveau-né. Données préliminaires.