Responses of Human Neonates to Highly Diluted Odorants from Sweat

Loos H, Doucet S, Vedrines F, Sharapa C, Soussignan R, Durand K, Sagot P, Büttner A, Schaal B (2017)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Journal of Chemical Ecology Springer Verlag (Germany)

Publisher: SPRINGER

Book Volume: 43

Pages Range: 106-117

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1007/s10886-016-0804-x

Abstract

Conjugated forms of odorants contributing to sweat odor occur not only in human sweat but also in amniotic fluid, colostrum, and milk. However, it is unclear whether the released odorants are detected and hedonically discriminated by human newborns. To investigate this issue, we administered highly diluted solutions of (R)/(S)-3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (MSH), (R)/(S)-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (SH), (E)/(Z)-3-methylhex-2-enoic acid (3M2H), and (R)/(S)-3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid (HMHA) to 3-d-old infants while their respiratory rate and oro-facial movements were recorded. Adult sensitivity to these odorants was assessed via triangle tests. Whereas no neonatal stimulus-specific response was found for respiratory rate, oro-facial reactivity indicated orthonasal detection of MSH and SH by male neonates, and of HMHA by the whole group of neonates. Dependent on the dilution of odorants, newborns evinced neutral responses or longer negative oro-facial expressions compared with the reference stimuli. Finally, newborns appeared to be more sensitive to the target odorants than did adults.

Authors with CRIS profile

Helene Loos
Constanze Sharapa
Andrea Büttner

Involved external institutions

Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté FR France (FR) Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Dijon Bourgogne FR France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Loos, H., Doucet, S., Vedrines, F., Sharapa, C., Soussignan, R., Durand, K.,... Schaal, B. (2017). Responses of Human Neonates to Highly Diluted Odorants from Sweat. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 43(1), 106-117. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10886-016-0804-x

MLA:

Loos, Helene, et al. "Responses of Human Neonates to Highly Diluted Odorants from Sweat." Journal of Chemical Ecology 43.1 (2017): 106-117.

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