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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/17/opinion/17pinker.html?th&emc=th">http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/17/opinion/17pinker.html?th&emc=th</a><br>
Steven Pinker writes:<br>
"...Swedish neuroscientists scanned people's brains as they smelled a
testosterone derivative found in men's sweat and an estrogen-like
compound found in women's urine. In heterosexual men, a part of the
hypothalamus (the seat of physical drives) responded to the female
compound but not the male one; in heterosexual women and homosexual
men, it was the other way around."<br>
.........and, in the next paragraph................<br>
"The role of pheromones in our sexuality must be small at best. When
people want to be titillated or to check out a prospective partner,
most seek words or pictures, not dirty laundry."<br>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
I take issue with Pinker's simplistic link between the understated
unconscious affect of putative human pheromone on neuroanatomy (Savic
et al's findings), and his preemptive conclusion that pheromones play
a
minimal role in our sexuality. His mistake is common. As indicated by
his words/pictures (not dirty laundry) association with sexual
titillation, he addresses only conscious choice, and ignores the
unconscious affect of pheromones on hormone levels (and behavior)
throughout a
lifetime of experience (as reviewed in Kohl et al 2001).
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.nel.edu/22_5/NEL220501R01_Review.htm">http://www.nel.edu/22_5/NEL220501R01_Review.htm</a><br>
<br>
Using similar faulty logic, Pinker could say that people are more
interested
in words describing food or pictures of food, and the role of food's
olfactory appeal is "small at best." A logical person would not deny
the primary role of olfaction (i.e., chemical appeal) when it comes to
food choice. Nevertheless, when it comes to sexuality, Pinker, and most
people do not think logically about the olfactory/chemical appeal of a
prospective partner. Pinker's faulty logic would gives us the
impression that words or
pictures are satisfactory substitutes when it comes to our sexual
appetite.<br>
<br>
Alice Andrews wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid009701c55ad4$e554be70$6501a8c0@callastudios">
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<div>Is the huge attraction to the scent something essential, i.e.
about 'matching' immune systems and personalities, about desiring
something rare/special, about desiring something disordered, about
desiring something that shows fitness, etc etc...? Or is it just that I
happened to have fallen in love with a man who happened to have had
these particular characteritics and smell, and now I'm locked into it
by association? Or a little of both? <br>
</div>
</blockquote>
The initial attraction is largely due to androgen associated
reproductive fitness as manifest both in his testosterone level and in
his masculine pheromone production. Immune system correlates are more
important depending on menstrual cycle phase. Once your sexual response
cycle has been conditioned to respond to the scent of a high
testosterone male, someone who is less chemically/reproductively fit is
also less likely to provide a sufficiently stimulating androgenic
stimulus.<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid009701c55ad4$e554be70$6501a8c0@callastudios">
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Three years ago we corresponded about love and pheromones and I
got your permission to post/share your responses on EP-yahoo.
I'm pasting here because it's pretty interesting. And exactly a year
ago I wrote you an email re the above question re personality and
pheromones. I no longer have that email, but I do have <em>your </em>response.
Here's some of it... I figure it's okay to share:</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
It is. But since I began this post with Pinker's comments relative to
homosexual orientation, and you mentioned the link to the immune
system, I will add that the sexual orientation - immune system
correlates were first detailed in Diamond, M., T.
Binstock, J. V. Kohl (1996). "From fertilization to adult
sexual behavior: Nonhormonal influences on sexual behavior."
Hormones and Behavior 30(December): 333-353. <br>
<br>
The immune system and the olfactory system have functional similarities
in recognition of self/non-self. Accordingly, we will be learning more
about the immune system link to pheromone production/response and its
link to sexual orientation. For example: Homosexuals produce natural
body odor (e.g. pheromones) that is distinguished from heterosexual
body odor, and homosexual prefer the natural body odor of other
homosexuals. This extends the mammalian model for olfactory
conditioning of visual appeal (which Pinker ignores) via genotypic and
phenotypic expression to homosexual preferences, which lie along the
same continuum as the preferences you now appear to be "locked into" by
association.<br>
<br>
Thanks for your interest,<br>
<br>
Jim Kohl<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.pheromones.com">www.pheromones.com</a> <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid009701c55ad4$e554be70$6501a8c0@callastudios">
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>Alice Andrews wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid00a101c4457a$ff3497e0$73f6ae44@CallaStudios"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Is there any evidence to suggest that particular odors are signals
of particular personalities? Certainly high testosterone and these
pheromones and personality must be linked, no?</pre>
</blockquote>
<div>Yes. Also, since stress increases cortisol, which decreases
testosterone, a confident man's<br>
pheromone production would be indicative of reproductive fitness. You
know the type; acts<br>
like he owns the joint, presents as an alpha male, attracts most of the
women.<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid00a101c4457a$ff3497e0$73f6ae44@CallaStudios"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""> The three men who share this
particular scent (musky, musty, almost like mildew) all have similar
personalities...Somewhat 'disordered' (a little boderline, narcissistic,
schizoid, etc.)
I'd be curious to know if there is anything out there on any correlation. (I
have not found yet.)</pre>
</blockquote>
<div>Watch out for the schizoid. DHEA production varies and so does
the natural body odor of <br>
schizophrenics. In homosexual males it's the ratio of androsterone to
etiocholanolone, which<br>
are the primary metabolites of DHEA. Homosexuals prefer the odor of
other homosexuals (this<br>
will be published later this year by others).<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid00a101c4457a$ff3497e0$73f6ae44@CallaStudios"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""> -------------------------------------------------------</pre>
<pre wrap="">AA:</pre>
</blockquote>
<div>I was wondering if there's any literature on (or talk of) female
pheromones at ovulation<br>
having the capability to alter or inhibit or increase a particular type
of sperm-one that<br>
is more likely to impregnate?</div>
<div> </div>
<div><br>
JVK:</div>
<div>The egg has been described as an active sperm-catcher; pretty
sure we cited this in my<br>
book, but<br>
no info I've seen indicates pheromonal effects on type of sperm. This
is an interesting<br>
thought,<br>
nonetheless. I hope you follow up with your inquiry to other experts.
Pheromone receptors<br>
also<br>
are present on sperm cells (presumably to guide them to the egg).<br>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>AA:</div>
<div>If such a sperm is more 'costly' in some way to manufacture, it
would make sense that a<br>
man would 'conserve' most 'fertile,' 'viable,' 'healthy'<br>
sperm for when female was at her most fertile. Or perhaps it is just as
simple as: when a<br>
man detects pheromones most (or likes them most), he is<br>
most turned on and produces MORE semen, thus more chance for
fertilization to occur. And<br>
perhaps more normal sperm cells are present? Any<br>
thoughts? <br>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>JVK:</div>
<div>The literature I've seen indicates a continuum of sperm
production based on ratios of<br>
luteinizing hormone<br>
(LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), with FSH being largely
responsible for<br>
development. However, it<br>
is an LH surge that accompanies both ovulation in women, and a
testosterone increase in<br>
men exposure to<br>
ovulatory women's pheromones (copulins). There is also some literature
(Sperm Wars) that<br>
mentions increased<br>
aniticipatory volume of semen, but no indications of sperm quality as I
recall. <br>
<br>
Sorry I can't be of more help, (read that your book got Jim Brody's
approval, congrats!)<br>
<br>
Jim<br>
</div>
<div>---------------------------------------------------</div>
<div> </div>
<div>AA:<br>
I sometimes wonder if the feelings of Love during conception could
possibly alter the<br>
quality of sperm, too...<br>
neurotransmitters/hormones/peptides etc in woman feeling love during
sex-------->affect<br>
(copulins) pheromones (type or amount)----><br>
affect sperm quality???<br>
And/or 'love chemicals' in men simply affecting sperm quality
etc....??? Hmmm....</div>
<div> </div>
<div><br>
JVK:<br>
A possibility, since many if not all neuronal systems feedback on <br>
the gonadotropin releasing hormone neuronal system, which drives<br>
everything about reproduction (and, of course, is directly affected<br>
by pheromones.) An example: increasing estrogen levels are linked<br>
to increased oxytocin release with orgasm in women. If oxytocin also<br>
increased with testosterone, bonding would be facilitated. Perhaps<br>
the bonding mechanism influences fertility. Or maybe something so<br>
simple as the immune system functions of paired mates adjusting to<br>
the ongoing presence of a mate, facilitating conception via immune<br>
system interaction with sperm production. Much to think about; more<br>
to study.<br>
<br>
Jim<br>
</div>
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<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;">-----
Original Message ----- </div>
<div
style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228) none repeat scroll 0%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>From:</b>
<a title="jvkohl@bellsouth.net" href="mailto:jvkohl@bellsouth.net">JV
Kohl</a> </div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>To:</b>
<a title="andrewsa@newpaltz.edu" href="mailto:andrewsa@newpaltz.edu">Alice
Andrews</a> ; <a title="paleopsych@paleopsych.org"
href="mailto:paleopsych@paleopsych.org">The new improved paleopsych
list</a> </div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>Sent:</b>
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 12:24 AM</div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>Subject:</b>
Re: [Paleopsych] What's the survival value
ofposttraumaticstressdisorder?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
Alice,<br>
I've long thought that the link between PTSD and rape is olfactory. War
vets response triggered by smoke;<br>
women's response triggered by the natural scent of a man--or event
associated odors: alcohol, etc. The natural<br>
scent of a man can evoke chemical changes in reproductive hormone
levels, which would also affect personality.<br>
The association with natural masculine scent is most likely to alter
intimacy with a rape victim's loving spouse/lover.<br>
She will respond to him, unfortunately, as her traumatized body
responded to the rape. <br>
<br>
I wonder how much you've heard, read about the olfactory
connection--and how much validity you think<br>
there is to it.<br>
<br>
Jim Kohl<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.pheromones.com">www.pheromones.com</a><br>
<br>
Alice Andrews wrote:<br>
<blockquote cite="mid016001c54b3a$6b9b66a0$6501a8c0@callastudios"
type="cite">
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<div>Steve wrote:</div>
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<div>Her chemistry will change, and depending on where she is
developmentally (her life-history), her personality may actually
change! (Pre, say, 25 years of age). </div>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""> </pre>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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