Neuropharmacology. Odorants may arouse instinctive behaviours.

摘要: The prevailing view of the mammalian olfactory system is that odorants are detected only in nasal epithelium, whereas pheromones generally vomeronasal organ1,2,3. Here we show neurons can actually detect both and pheromones. This suggests mammals, as insects4,5,6, odorous compounds released from plants or other animal species may act 'semiochemicals' — signalling molecules elicit stereotyped behaviours advantageous to emitter receiver.