Utrecht Research : emotions make odors

A new research paper suggests that emotions generate chemicals that can cause odors. These are known as chemosignals. It seems that previously it has been connected with negative emotions, and this paper suggests odors can be caused by positive emotions too.

Daily Mail link to emotions causing odor

My view on the possible relevance to this and metabolic malodors :
I have long thought there may be a connection between metabolic malodors and emotions. Not the only connection, but perhaps one trigger. My main current view is that this may be because emotions generate chemicals, and chemicals can affect enzyme function or may have to be 'neutralized' by enzymes themselves. I also do not think it may be limited to emotions, which are only one type of chemicals generated in humans. Even neurotransmitters, hormones etc are probably chemicals which then need to be dealt with by enzymes, or may affect enzyme performance.

For instance FMO3 enzyme oxidizes sulfides and amines of a certain structure. These sulfides and amines are probably abundant in the environment and generated internally too. Their preferred enzyme for being neutralized by the body may be FMO3. So things like emotions or hormones may affect the ability of FMO3 enzyme, or cause an overload of the enzyme (for instance).

So research like this may long-term be part of the metabolic malodor puzzle, though it seems like early days in understanding this aspect of research.

Research abstract : A sniff of happiness (April 2015)

---

Get new posts by email

---

By sysbodyodor

olfactory, why can't I smell myself ?

No comments