Human Pheromone Detection by the Vomeronasal Organ: Unnecessary for Mate Selection?

Authors: Mast, Thomas G.; Samuelsen, Chad L.

Source: Chemical Senses, Volume 34, Number 6, 28 July 2009 , pp. 529-531(3)

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Abstract:

Recently, Foltan and Sedy proposed a hypothesis stating that the adult human VNO is integral to the prevention of inappropriate mate selection. In this commentary, we address the authors assumption that humans have a functional VNO, that pheromones are detected exclusively by the VNO, and that human pheromones are responsible for negative stimuli during mate selection. After examining the published literature on human vomeronasal function, we argue that their hypothesis is critically flawed. We offer a brief review of the adult human VNO in support of our argument.

Keywords: behavior; human; pheromone; vomeronasal

Document Type: Letter to the Editor

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjp030

Publication date: 2009-07-28

More about this publication?

Chemical Senses publishes original research and review papers on all aspects of chemoreception in both humans and animals. An important part of the journal's coverage is devoted to techniques and the development and application of new methods for investigating chemoreception and chemosensory structures.