Lesbians Respond Differently to "Human Pheromones," Study Says

National Geographic News ^ | May 8, 2006 | John Roach

[kingattax]

Lesbian women respond differently than straight women when exposed to suspected sexual chemicals, according to a new brain imaging study.

The finding builds on previous research that suggest that gay men responded in a way more similar to heterosexual women than heterosexual men when exposed to a synthetic chemical.

The natural version of this chemical reportedly appears in high concentrations in male sweat.

The new study extends the research to homosexual women.

It found that lesbians' brains respond in a fashion more similar to that of heterosexual men than of heterosexual women when exposed to the sweat chemical and a synthetic chemical that has been detected in female urine.

"Both studies … indicate that the physiological response in brain regions associated with reproduction are different in homo- and heterosexual persons," Ivanka Savic, a neuroscientist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, said in an email.

Savic, who is the lead author of both studies, cautioned that neither study proves people are born gay. The response could be biological or learned. Determining an answer will require further study.

The most recent results were published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Savic added that the similarity between homosexual men and heterosexual women seems stronger than the similarity between lesbians and heterosexual men, highlighting the notion that male homosexuality is quite different than female homosexuality.

While pinpointing how homosexual men and lesbians differ requires further study, Savic said, "possibly the lesbian group is more heterogeneous and the mechanisms more diverse."

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Do they find the distinctive smell of mam nem strangely alluring as well?

[George Smiley]

Somebody needs to remind these people what the middle word in their organization's name is.

In a Usenet group dedicated to "Geography", this would be considered to be "off-topic".

I cancelled my subscription when they began substituting political correctness for science in their articles.

[bvw]

?

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Mam Nem is fermented anchovy sauce. It is the most vile smelling thing known to man. It is used in Vietnamese food. Think dead fish and multiply the thought by 10 or 20 orders of magnitude, and then do it again.

[Salamander]

You can tune a piano but you can't tuna fish.

[bvw]

Must be like that fermented norwegian canned fish, where the cans puff up from the rotting gasses inside.

[Salamander]

"Savic added that the similarity between homosexual men and heterosexual women seems stronger than the similarity between lesbians and heterosexual men, highlighting the notion that male homosexuality is quite different than female homosexuality."

They're both narcissistic masturbation disorders.

[Fintan]

Anyone wanna smell this?

[Varda]

What a load of crap.
That big time human response to smell must be why scratch and sniff porn magazines are so popular (/sarc).

[kingattax]

[N. Theknow]

a synthetic chemical that has been detected in female urine.

Women have a synthetic chemical in their urine?

So, if they're pissed off they're just faking it?

DOUBT THAT!

[TheSpottedOwl]

Interesting article. There has been research that suggests that heterosexual women respond favorably to the scent of male sweat. Another study made a claim that modern hygene has skewed scent based attraction.

[CarrotAndStick]

As far as disgusting food goes, well, here's this:




Casu marzu

Country of origin Italy
Region, town Sardinia
Source of milk Sheep
Pasteurized No
Texture Soft

Casu marzu (also called casu modde or formaggio marcio) is a cheese found in Sardinia, Italy, notable for being riddled with live insect larvae. Casu marzu is Sardinian for "rotten cheese."



Creation
Derived from Pecorino Sardo, casu marzu goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage most would consider to be decomposition, brought about by the digestive action of the larvae of the cheese fly, Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down the cheese's fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called "lagrima") seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as transparent, white worms, about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm (6 inches), prompting recommendations of eye protection for those eating the cheese. Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not.


Taste
Yaroslav Trofimov, writing in The Wall Street Journal in 2000, describes the cheese as "a viscous, pungent goo that burns the tongue and can affect other parts of the body." It is typically consumed with Sardinian bread (pane carasau) and Cannonau, a strong red wine.

[moviegirl]

well there went my appetite for the day...gee, thanks :)

[TheSpottedOwl]

I think Mario Battali and Giada DeLaurentiis won't be featuring this in one of their entrees. (TV Food Network)

Bleeech. I thought KimChee and Haggis sounded awful, but this is unbelievable! Thanks for sharing : P

[Salamander]

"Another study made a claim that modern hygene has skewed scent based attraction."

Have you ever sat and counted the number of men's "perfume" commercials that run in an average evening of TV watching?

[bvw]

Sounds like a Survivor: Lost in Sardinia challenge.