Scent of a woman: men's testosterone responses to olfactory ovulation cues.
Adaptationist models of human mating provide a useful framework for identifying subtle, biologically based mechanisms influencing cross-gender social interaction. In line with this framework, the current studies examined the extent to which olfactory cues to female ovulation--scents of women at the peak of their reproductive fertility--influence endocrinological responses in men. Men in the current studies smelled T-shirts worn by women near ovulation or far from ovulation (Studies 1 and 2) or control T-shirts not worn by anyone (Study 2). Men exposed to the scent of an ovulating woman subsequently displayed higher levels of testosterone than did men exposed to the scent of a nonovulating woman or a control scent. Hence, olfactory cues signaling women's levels of reproductive fertility were associated with specific endocrinological responses in men--responses that have been linked to sexual behavior and the initiation of romantic courtship.
Miller
Saul L
SL
Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301, USA. smiller@psy.fsu.edu
Maner
Jon K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010060:Ovulation; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000502:physiology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D012724:Sex Attractants; D013739:Testosterone