Exposure to a learned odor can induce fear responses in subsequent generations, potentially through epigenetic changes affecting glucocorticoid receptors.

“And there was some sort of epigenetic change that the breathing of the odor, or the cherry blossom, was inducing. That was like changing some receptor on the glucocorticoid receptors. So it was getting passed on to, like, the next generation. And so even though the next generation didn't have the shock and the coupling of the smell, you know, if they were exposed to the smell, they have the fear.”