Premium
Changes in sensitivity to the odor of androstenone during adolescence
Author(s) -
Dorries Kathleen M.,
Schmidt Hilary J.,
Beauchamp Gary K.,
Wysocki Charles J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.420220502
Subject(s) - androstenone , odor , endocrinology , medicine , psychology , physiology , neuroscience
While it has been reported that most, if not all, very young children are able to detect the odor of 5α‐androst‐16‐en‐3‐one (androstenone), approximately 40–50% of human adults cannot detect its odor. The present study focused on changes in sensitivity to androstenone was determined in 247 subjects aged 6 to 50. There was a significant increase in the number of males anosmic to androstenone between 9–14 and 15–20 years of age, and a significant increase in threshold with age among males able to detect the odor. We infer that a smaller percentage of females than males becomes anosmic to the odor of androstenone during development, and those able to detect it apparently show a decrease in threshold with age. No age‐related changes were observed in tests of pyridine or d , l , ‐β‐phenylethylmethylethyl‐carbinol (PEMEC).