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Psychological effects of musky compounds: comparison of

androstadienone with androstenol and muscone.

Hormones and Behavior
Volume 42, Issue 3 , November 2002,

Pages 274-283

Suma Jacob, Sheila Garcia, Davinder Hayreh and Martha K. McClintock*

Department of

Psychology, Institute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637



Abstract
Previously, we have shown that delta4,16-androstadien-3-one modulates psychological state,

reducing negative mood and increasing positive mood (Jacob and McClintock, 2000; Jacob et al., 2001a). In order to

determine whether similar musky compounds also produce these effects, we compared the effects of androstadienone to

those of androstenol and muscone, measuring the psychological states of 37 participants. Androstenol and muscone

were chosen because they too have a musky odor at high concentrations, while androstenol is a steroid like

androstadienone and muscone is not. In a controlled laboratory setting, we conducted a double-blind, within-subject,

repeated-measures experiment counterbalanced for order of presentation. Under each participant's nose, a nanomolar

amount of each compound was presented, masked by clove oil to minimize perceptible olfactory differences.

Participants completed a baseline psychological battery and twice again at 25-min intervals after exposure.

Androstadienone's effects on psychological state were unique in comparison with those of androstenol and with

muscone. Exposure through passive inhalation, rather than dermal contact, was sufficient for these effects. Although

this is additional evidence that androstadienone may be a pheromone, it is yet to be determined whether humans exude

concentrations into the air adequate for social communication or process this chemical information within natural

social contexts.

Author Keywords: chemosignals; pheromone; odor; mood; musky compounds; steroids

*To

whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed at Department of Psychology, The University of Chicago,

5730 S. Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637. Fax: 773-702-0320. E-mail: mkml@uchicago.edu.



Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial