| Author(s): | Ackerl K; Atzmueller M; Grammer K; |
| Address: | "Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Urban Ethology, Institute of Anthropology/University of Vienna, Austria" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0172-780X (Print) 0172-780X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "In this study we tried to find out if fear can be detected from human body odours. Female subjects wore under-arm axillary pads while watching a terrifying film. Saliva cortisol samples were taken before and after the film presentation as a hormonal measure for the fear response. The fear experience itself was measured by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A 'neutral' film, shown one day after the 'fear' film, was used as a control in a repeated measures design. In part two of the experiment, the axillary pads were presented to female subjects in a triple forced choice test. Results show that subjects were able to discriminate between fear and non-fear axillary pads, suggesting that women are indeed able to detect 'the scent of fear'. A direct correlation between induced fear, changes in cortisol levels and smell ratings could not be established. Thus cortisol levels are probably not the inducer of the scent of fear and a hypothetical fear pheromone could have other origins" |
| Keywords: | Adolescent Adult Anxiety/physiopathology Communication Fear/*physiology Female Humans Hydrocortisone/analysis Pheromones/*physiology Salivary Glands/chemistry Smell/*physiology; |
| Notes: | "MedlineAckerl, Kerstin Atzmueller, Michaela Grammer, Karl eng Sweden 2002/05/16 Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002 Apr; 23(2):79-84" |
