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How Smell, Taste & Pheromone-Like Chemicals Control You — Whalespan

Content›Video›How Smell, Taste & Pheromone…

How Smell, Taste & Pheromone-Like Chemicals Control You

Andrew Huberman1h 60m · 2021-06-21

Claims Made

179

Claims Supported

164

Support Rate

92%

Support rate

164 of 179 claims supported

164 supported15 partial / not

Claims from this content

132

✓Well SupportedInside Tracker's platform provides actionable protocols to adjust blood markers into ideal ranges for health.✓Well SupportedRegular blood work is essential for monitoring factors impacting immediate and long-term health.✓Well SupportedProbiotics in Athletic Greens are vital for microbiotic health, which communicates with the brain and immune system to impact immediate and long-term health.✓Well SupportedThorne supplements are considered highly stringent regarding ingredient precision and quality.Well Supported

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A. Volkovreader

4h

Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

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N. Park

2d

Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

✓

Ag One (formerly Athletic Greens) is a vitamin, mineral, and probiotic drink that provides foundational nutritional needs.

✓Well SupportedAthletic Greens supports the gut microbiome, which is vital for the immune system, endocrine system, and gut-brain axis, influencing mood and neurotransmitter production.

✓Well SupportedThe protective effect of the impregnated male's scent against spontaneous miscarriage in pregnant females is lost if he is absent and a novel male appears.

✓Well SupportedInhaling, even without a specific scent, can activate brain systems for detecting stimuli and increase alertness.

✓Well SupportedHumans can be trained to follow odor trails and distinguish between different odor sources.

✓Well SupportedHumans often touch their eyes within seconds of meeting and shaking hands.

✓Well SupportedProcessed foods often contain hidden sugars or artificial sweeteners to bypass homeostatic mechanisms for sweet taste.

✓Well SupportedProcessed foods can induce cravings by activating gut neurons that trigger dopamine release.

✓Well SupportedSniffing peppermint or minty scents can increase attention and create an arousal response.

✓Well SupportedNeurons in the gut sense the presence of fatty acids, amino acids, and sugars.

✓Well SupportedBreathing techniques that increase oxygen intake can increase alertness and deploy norepinephrine, leading to greater arousal.

✓Well SupportedTaste sensations are detected by chemical sensors on the tongue that convert chemicals into electrical signals.

✓Well SupportedMice engineered to lack sweet receptors drink equally from bottles containing sugar or water.

✓Well SupportedFemale sweat and pheromones can modulate menstrual cycle patterns.

✓Well SupportedHumans subconsciously evaluate their chemical environment through inhalation, ingestion, and direct skin transfer.

✓Well SupportedNasal breathing is a protocol for learning, listening, and waking the brain to improve information retention.

✓Well SupportedSniffing and inhaling powerfully affect alertness, attention, focus, and memory.

✓Well SupportedSunlight and blue light are beneficial for vision and can help offset myopia, provided the blue light is not excessively bright or too close to the eyes.

✓Well SupportedLoss of sense of smell can sometimes be an early sign of dementia or Parkinson's disease.

✓Well SupportedEnhancing the sense of sniffing through practice can lead to a richer and deeper connection with smells.

◐Partially SupportedHumans may possess a vestigial Jacobson's organ (vomeronasal organ) involved in pheromonal signaling.

◐Partially SupportedThe Coolidge effect, observed in rodents and roosters, demonstrates that a new sexual partner can restore mating ability and desire after exhaustion.

◐Partially SupportedRegaining sense of smell and taste can indicate brain damage or inform recovery from concussion.

◐Partially SupportedOlfactory neurons send signals into the brain via three distinct pathways, one of which is for innate odor responses that are hardwired from birth.

◐Partially SupportedChemical signaling between individuals communicates biological information and shapes each other's biology through molecule exchange.

◐Partially SupportedThe ability to smell and taste is a strong indicator of brain health because olfactory neurons are continuously replenished throughout life.

◐Partially SupportedThe brain can distinguish between basic tastes within 100 milliseconds of the substance touching the tongue.

◐Partially SupportedThe primary evolutionary purpose of the taste systems is to guide ingestion of beneficial substances and avoidance of harmful ones.

◐Partially SupportedBitter taste receptors at the back of the tongue trigger a gagging reflex for potentially harmful substances.

◐Partially SupportedEnhancing one's sense of smell through interaction with odors and focusing on inhalation can help create new neurons after a head injury.

✓Well SupportedThe five primary tastes are sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami, with potential for a sixth taste.

◐Partially SupportedThe Coolidge effect applies to females, where they regain the desire and ability to mate after exhaustion if presented with a new male partner.

◐Partially SupportedOlfactory neurons extend from the olfactory bulb through the skull into the nasal mucosal lining.

◐Partially SupportedThe tongue possesses receptors that can sense fat, which is vital for nervous system and organ function.

◐Partially SupportedSalty taste receptors detect electrolytes, which are vital for nervous system and body function.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals on a plant-based diet may develop heightened sensitivity and desire for sugars and plant-based foods.

◐Partially SupportedChemical signaling occurs from females to males through tears, which fits the definition of a pheromone.

◐Partially SupportedNasal breathing during sleep is healthier than mouth breathing.

◐Partially SupportedThe five primary tastes are sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami, and all taste receptors are intermixed across the entire tongue.

◐Partially SupportedTaste receptors are expressed in tissues including the gut and gonads.

◐Partially SupportedAthletic Greens is compatible with keto, most fasting regimens, and vegan or non-vegan diets.

✓Well SupportedMiracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum) can alter taste receptor configuration, making sour foods taste sweet for several hours.

◐Partially SupportedGut mucosal neurons sense fatty acids, sugars, and amino acids, signaling via the vagus nerve to the brain to release dopamine and increase motivation to consume them.

◐Partially SupportedRecovery of sense of smell can partially gauge recovery from a concussion or head injury.

◐Partially SupportedThe experience of taste is determined by how taste receptors on the tongue interact with specific pathways in the brain.

◐Partially SupportedThe olfactory system includes pathways that respond to odorants evoking desire and appetitive or approach behaviors, requiring no learning.

◐Partially SupportedChemical-chemical signaling between individuals is confirmed.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals perceive the smell of microwave popcorn as vomit due to a specific gene.

◐Partially SupportedThe olfactory pathway for smoke detection projects to the amygdala, triggering alertness or wakefulness.

◐Partially SupportedMinimal training and attention, including sniffing, can improve discernment of food preferences.

✕Not SupportedSniffing ammonia salts too closely can damage the olfactory epithelium and potentially vision.

◐Partially SupportedOlfactory dysfunction is common in traumatic brain injury because head impacts can shear off olfactory neurons.

◐Partially SupportedThe mouth and tongue act as an extension of the digestive tract with a chemical sensing apparatus.

◐Partially SupportedClinicians use the ability to sniff in response to an odor to assess brain function, capacity for recovery from coma, and potentially brain death.

◐Partially SupportedDopamine triggers the creation and migration of new neurons in the olfactory bulb, enhancing smell.

◐Partially SupportedWomen are generally better than men at detecting odors and performing odor discrimination tasks, and this ability varies with their menstrual cycle phase.

◐Partially SupportedNasal breathing during focused work can improve cognitive function and learning.

◐Partially SupportedThe ability to smell can increase within days of exposure to specific odors.

◐Partially SupportedInteracting with positive odors and inhaling more can enhance olfactory abilities and taste.

◐Partially SupportedSmelling salts increase alertness and arousal by triggering innate pathways to the amygdala and releasing adrenaline.

✓Well SupportedLoss of smell, as experienced during COVID-19, significantly impacts the perception of taste and overall quality of life.

◐Partially SupportedOlfactory neurons in the brain are involved in learned associations with odors, often linked to nurturing and safe feelings.

◐Partially SupportedThe olfactory and taste systems are amenable to rapid behavioral training shifts.

◐Partially SupportedVolatile chemicals must be inhaled to enter the nose and be detected as smells.

◐Partially SupportedLoss of sense of smell was an early detection sign for COVID-19.

◐Partially SupportedDopamine, testosterone, and estrogen are associated with novelty and can lead to an enhanced enjoyment of another person's scent.

◐Partially SupportedHormones profoundly influence smell, taste, and the ability to sense chemical states of others, impacting social and reproductive decisions.

◐Partially SupportedPheromones can enter the system through the nose, eyes, or mouth and fundamentally change biology.

◐Partially SupportedAdrenaline and epinephrine are basic molecules involved in general mechanisms of arousal, alertness, and attention.

◐Partially SupportedThe accessory olfactory pathway is responsible for true pheromone effects in animals like rodents and mandrills.

◐Partially SupportedExercising the accommodation reflex by looking at near and far objects can help offset myopia.

◐Partially SupportedAmmonia inhalants can increase maximal force and force development in trained men.

◐Partially SupportedA sensitive palate and sense of smell can guide eating, smelling, and interpersonal decisions in alignment with biology.

◐Partially SupportedHigh C-reactive protein (CRP) levels detected via blood tests can be a cautionary note for cardiac and eye diseases.

◐Partially SupportedNear-far viewing exercises for five minutes three times a week may help offset myopia.

◐Partially SupportedThe sense of smell can be enhanced through sniffing and smelling, which can also improve taste, cognition, and learning ability.

◐Partially SupportedSpending two hours per day outdoors, utilizing sunlight and blue light, can help offset myopia.

◐Partially SupportedThe use of smelling salts for strength and power performance in trained men has been studied in randomized controlled trials.

◐Partially SupportedTaste is perceived when chemicals from food are broken down into component parts in the mouth and detected by the tongue.

◐Partially SupportedDuring exhalation, the brain experiences a decrease in arousal and learning ability.

◐Partially SupportedSmell is detected when particles of volatile chemicals enter the nose and are processed by the brain.

◐Partially SupportedSour receptors evolved to detect spoiled or fermented food, not for enjoying sour candies.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals taking antidepressants that strongly impact dopamine, such as Wellbutrin, report a rapid increase in their ability to smell.

◐Partially SupportedThe human biology is wired to detect and sense individuals and situations for approach or avoidance, particularly concerning reproduction and disease transmission risks.

◐Partially SupportedChemicals produced by other individuals can powerfully modulate our internal state.

◐Partially SupportedChemical signaling between women can impact menstrual cycle timing.

◐Partially SupportedIndividual taste perception is highly variable between people.

◐Partially SupportedLoss of sense of smell with age is likely correlated with the loss of other sensory neurons and is associated with aging.

◐Partially SupportedNew olfactory neurons are born in the subventricular zone, migrate through the rostral migratory stream, and settle in the olfactory bulb.

◐Partially SupportedThe molecule 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline is responsible for the toasted smell in microwave popcorn, white bread, and jasmine rice.

◐Partially SupportedBreath communicates significant signals, and the handshake-eye rub experiment demonstrates that humans reflexively engage in behaviors to smear themselves with others' chemicals.

◐Partially SupportedCaramelization is a sugar-sugar chemical interaction that results in a sweet, toasted taste.

◐Partially SupportedKetone groups are chemical compounds that can be used for energy and have a savory smell and taste.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals on a pure carnivore or keto diet who consume meat may develop a more sensitive palate for umami flavors and a craving for umami-like foods.

◐Partially SupportedChemicals can enter the human body through the nose, mouth, eyes, and skin.

◐Partially SupportedIncreased sniffing and smelling can improve sensitivity in an olfactory system.

◐Partially SupportedSniffing enhances the brain's ability to respond to smells.

◐Partially SupportedInhaling is beneficial for waking up the brain, cognitive function, and enhancing the sense of smell.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals have a lower threshold for the gag reflex when exposed to unpleasant tastes or smells.

✕Not SupportedTaste receptors are intermixed across the entire tongue, not localized to specific areas.

◐Partially SupportedLutein supplements may improve vision health and offset age-related macular degeneration and vision loss.

◐Partially SupportedThe expression of taste receptors on the gonads suggests a potential link between food flavor sensing and reproductive organ cellular responses.

◐Partially SupportedThe senses of sound, mechanical touch, and chemical detection are mediated by sound waves, mechanical stimuli, and volatile chemicals respectively.

◐Partially SupportedThe human visual system perceives vision through light photons landing on the retinas, which then communicate with the brain.

◐Partially SupportedThe sour taste system elicits a physical response including puckering, eye closing, and mouth cringing.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals have a genetic predisposition to perceive musky or musty scents as noxious, while others find them pleasant.

◐Partially SupportedTaste receptors are expressed in tissues beyond the tongue, including the gonads and respiratory system.

◐Partially SupportedThe umami receptor signals the presence of amino acids.

◐Partially SupportedHumans actively seek out, sense, and evaluate chemicals from other individuals from birth throughout life.

◐Partially SupportedThe ability to taste can be significantly enhanced through training by consciously paying attention to the different component parts of foods.

◐Partially SupportedSweet taste receptors signal the presence of energy and are essential for identifying rapid energy sources or potential glucose.

◐Partially SupportedThe Maillard reaction is a non-enzymatic browning process involving a sugar-amino acid chemical interaction that creates savory flavors.

◐Partially SupportedThe combination of activated odor and taste receptors triggers multiple brain areas associated with taste and related behaviors.

◐Partially SupportedMiracle fruit can alter the perception of sweetness in foods.

◐Partially SupportedFermented fruit can be poisonous.

◐Partially SupportedAmino acids and fatty acids are essential for survival and brain health, while essential carbohydrates or sugars are not.

◐Partially SupportedThe Maillard reaction in food preparation makes amino acids more chemically available for detection by neurons.

◐Partially SupportedThe ability to detect umami flavors is enhanced by ingesting more meat and less activation of sweet receptors.

◐Partially SupportedThe ability to wake up to odors is diminished during REM sleep.

◐Partially SupportedStimuli such as peppermint or ammonia can trigger adrenaline and an alertness response.

◐Partially SupportedLoss of sense of smell is often correlated with brain damage but is not causal.

✕Not SupportedHumans can smell things in their dreams or during sleep.

◐Partially SupportedA smell test protocol involves smelling an item, setting it down, performing several inhales, and smelling again to evaluate olfactory performance.

◐Partially SupportedThe book 'What Is Color?: 50 Questions and Answers on the Science of Color' by Arielle and Joann Eckstut provides a comprehensive explanation of human color vision.

◐Partially SupportedTaste and smell systems can be trained to detect specific flavor profiles.

◐Partially SupportedTaste receptors in the mouth can be burned and destroyed by ingesting substances that are too hot, but they can regenerate.

◐Partially SupportedThe ability to detect nuances in taste can be developed through top-down mechanisms involving the olfactory cortex and behavioral plasticity.

◐Partially SupportedTraining the olfactory and taste systems with attention and sniffing can alter food preferences and the physiological response to ingested foods.