1
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Zhang S, Stallforth P. Biofilms and exopolysaccharides in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: pathogenesis, immune evasion, and lung-brain signaling during pneumonia. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:204. [PMID: 39155283 PMCID: PMC11330957 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01902-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shuaibing Zhang
- Department of Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Pierre Stallforth
- Department of Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, D-07745, Jena, Germany.
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, D-07743, Jena, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Fürstengraben 1, D-07743, Jena, Germany.
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2
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Castany S, Rosa PB, Shionoya K, Blomqvist A, Engblom D. Social transmission of inflammation in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 120:464-470. [PMID: 38925419 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to detect and respond to sickness in others promotes survival. Here we show that mouse dams respond to immune challenged pups by mirroring their inflammatory response. Dams with pups subjected to immune challenge displayed a marked induction of inflammatory mediators in both the brain and the periphery, accompanied by an increase in maternal behaviors and corticosterone levels. This social transmission of inflammation did not require physical contact, and it contributed to the stress hormone response in the dams. In adult dyads, interaction with an immune challenged cagemate did not elicit robust inflammatory signaling but induced an increased responsiveness to a subsequent immune challenge. The identification of social transmission of inflammation, or inflammatory responsiveness, may open new avenues for research on social behavior, just like the description of similar phenomena such as observational fear and transmitted pain has done.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Castany
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Priscila Batista Rosa
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kiseko Shionoya
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anders Blomqvist
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - David Engblom
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden.
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3
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Trachtenberg E. The beneficial effects of social support and prosocial behavior on immunity and health: A psychoneuroimmunology perspective. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 37:100758. [PMID: 38524896 PMCID: PMC10960128 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the pivotal role of the social environment, prompting a surge in research on its impact on well-being and health. This article aims to examine the link between the social environment, the immune system, and health outcomes, with a particular focus on positive aspects like social support and prosocial behaviors that are under-explored. Different aspects of the social environment are examined: the negative effects of loneliness and adverse social conditions, contrasted with the benefits of social support and prosocial behaviors. While the mechanisms behind negative effects are partially studied, those driving the positive effects remain elusive. Understanding the mechanisms of lack of social connection and their effects will allow us to explore the benefits of social connections and whether they can reverse the adverse outcomes. Potential psychoneuroimmunology mechanisms are proposed, highlighting the promotion of a 'safe' state by the vagus nerve, oxytocin circuits, and the additional contribution of the reward pathways. This article reviews the need to bridge knowledge gaps, urging further research to study the causal effects of positive social interactions on immune response and health outcomes to raise clinical awareness and interventions. Such interventions may include integrating lonely individuals with prosocial activities, thereby improving their physical and mental health. There is growing potential to harness the power of social connections for the betterment of individual health and society as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estherina Trachtenberg
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Israel
- School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel
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4
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Granton E, Brown L, Defaye M, Moazen P, Almblad H, Randall TE, Rich JD, Geppert A, Abdullah NS, Hassanabad MF, Hiroki CH, Farias R, Nguyen AP, Schubert C, Lou Y, Andonegui G, Iftinca M, Raju D, Vargas MA, Howell PL, Füzesi T, Bains J, Kurrasch D, Harrison JJ, Altier C, Yipp BG. Biofilm exopolysaccharides alter sensory-neuron-mediated sickness during lung infection. Cell 2024; 187:1874-1888.e14. [PMID: 38518773 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Infections of the lung cause observable sickness thought to be secondary to inflammation. Signs of sickness are crucial to alert others via behavioral-immune responses to limit contact with contagious individuals. Gram-negative bacteria produce exopolysaccharide (EPS) that provides microbial protection; however, the impact of EPS on sickness remains uncertain. Using genome-engineered Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) strains, we compared EPS-producers versus non-producers and a virulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) lung infection model in male and female mice. EPS-negative P. aeruginosa and virulent E. coli infection caused severe sickness, behavioral alterations, inflammation, and hypothermia mediated by TLR4 detection of the exposed lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in lung TRPV1+ sensory neurons. However, inflammation did not account for sickness. Stimulation of lung nociceptors induced acute stress responses in the paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei by activating corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons responsible for sickness behavior and hypothermia. Thus, EPS-producing biofilm pathogens evade initiating a lung-brain sensory neuronal response that results in sickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Granton
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Luke Brown
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Manon Defaye
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Inflammation Research Network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Parisa Moazen
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Henrik Almblad
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Trevor E Randall
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jacquelyn D Rich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Andrew Geppert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Nasser S Abdullah
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Inflammation Research Network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mortaza F Hassanabad
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Carlos H Hiroki
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Raquel Farias
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Angela P Nguyen
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Courtney Schubert
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Yuefei Lou
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Graciela Andonegui
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mircea Iftinca
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Inflammation Research Network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Deepa Raju
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mario A Vargas
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - P Lynne Howell
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tamás Füzesi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine Optogenetics Core Facility, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jaideep Bains
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Deborah Kurrasch
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Joe Jonathan Harrison
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Christophe Altier
- Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Inflammation Research Network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Bryan G Yipp
- Department of Critical Care, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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5
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Merrell WN, Choi S, Ackerman JM. When and Why People Conceal Infectious Disease. Psychol Sci 2024; 35:215-225. [PMID: 38265420 DOI: 10.1177/09567976231221990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
People sick with infectious illnesses face negative social outcomes, like exclusion, and may take steps to conceal their illnesses from others. In 10 studies of past, current, and projected illness, we examined the prevalence and predictors of infection concealment in adult samples of U.S. university students, health-care employees, and online crowdsourced workers (total N = 4,110). About 75% reported concealing illness in interpersonal interactions, possibly placing others in harm's way. Concealment motives were largely social (e.g., wanting to attend events like parties) and achievement oriented (e.g., completing work objectives). Disease characteristics, including potential harm and illness immediacy, also influenced concealment decisions. People imagining harmful (vs. mild) infections concealed illness less frequently, whereas participants who were actually sick concealed frequently regardless of illness harm, suggesting state-specific biases underlying concealment decisions. Disease concealment appears to be a widely prevalent behavior by which concealers trade off risks to others in favor of their own goals, creating potentially important public-health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Soyeon Choi
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan
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6
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Zhang N, Jiang Z, Li M, Zhang D. A novel multi-feature learning model for disease diagnosis using face skin images. Comput Biol Med 2024; 168:107837. [PMID: 38086142 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facial skin characteristics can provide valuable information about a patient's underlying health conditions. OBJECTIVE In practice, there are often samples with divergent characteristics (commonly known as divergent samples) that can be attributed to environmental factors, living conditions, or genetic elements. These divergent samples significantly degrade the accuracy of diagnoses. METHODOLOGY To tackle this problem, we propose a novel multi-feature learning method called Multi-Feature Learning with Centroid Matrix (MFLCM), which aims to mitigate the influence of divergent samples on the accurate classification of samples located on the boundary. In this approach, we introduce a novel discriminator that incorporates a centroid matrix strategy and simultaneously adapt it to a classifier in a unified model. We effectively apply the centroid matrix to the embedding feature spaces, which are transformed from the multi-feature observation space, by calculating a relaxed Hamming distance. The purpose of the centroid vectors for each category is to act as anchors, ensuring that samples from the same class are positioned close to their corresponding centroid vector while being pushed further away from the remaining centroids. RESULTS Validation of the proposed method with clinical facial skin dataset showed that the proposed method achieved F1 scores of 92.59%, 83.35%, 82.84% and 85.46%, respectively for the detection the Healthy, Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Fatty Liver (FL) and Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). CONCLUSION Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method compared with typical classifiers single-view-based and state-of-the-art multi-feature approaches. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first to demonstrate concept of multi-feature learning using only facial skin images as an effective non-invasive approach for simultaneously identifying DM, FL and CRF in Han Chinese, the largest ethnic group in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhang
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Zhixing Jiang
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Mu Li
- Harbin Institute of Technology at Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.
| | - David Zhang
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data, Shenzhen, China.
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7
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Leung TS, Zeng G, Maylott SE, Martinez SN, Jakobsen KV, Simpson EA. Infection detection in faces: Children's development of pathogen avoidance. Child Dev 2024; 95:e35-e46. [PMID: 37589080 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the development of children's avoidance and recognition of sickness using face photos from people with natural, acute, contagious illness. In a U.S. sample of fifty-seven 4- to 5-year-olds (46% male, 70% White), fifty-two 8- to 9-year-olds (26% male, 62% White), and 51 adults (59% male, 61% White), children and adults avoided and recognized sick faces (ds ranged from 0.38 to 2.26). Both avoidance and recognition improved with age. Interestingly, 4- to 5-year-olds' avoidance of sick faces positively correlated with their recognition, suggesting stable individual differences in these emerging skills. Together, these findings are consistent with a hypothesized immature but functioning and flexible behavioral immune system emerging early in development. Characterizing children's sickness perception may help design interventions to improve health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany S Leung
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
| | - Guangyu Zeng
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
- Division of Applied Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sarah E Maylott
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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8
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Keller JK, Dulovic A, Gruber J, Griesbaum J, Schneiderhan-Marra N, Wülfing C, Kruse J, Hartmann A, Diekhof EK. SARS-CoV-2 specific sIgA in saliva increases after disease-related video stimulation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22631. [PMID: 38123577 PMCID: PMC10733377 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47798-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in saliva is the most important immunoglobulin fighting pathogens in the respiratory tract and may thus play a role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections. To gain a better understanding of the plasticity in the mucosal antibody, we investigated the proactive change in secretion of salivary SARS-CoV-2-specific sIgA in 45 vaccinated and/or previously infected, generally healthy persons (18 to 35 years, 22 women). Participants were exposed to a disease video displaying humans with several respiratory symptoms typical for COVID-19 in realistic situations of increased contagion risk. The disease video triggered an increase in spike-specific sIgA, which was absent after a similar control video with healthy people. The increase further correlated inversely with revulsion and aversive feelings while watching sick people. In contrast, the receptor binding domain-specific sIgA did not increase after the disease video. This may indicate differential roles of the two salivary antibodies in response to predictors of airborne contagion. The observed plasticity of spike-specific salivary antibody release after visual simulation of enhanced contagion risk suggests a role in immune exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith K Keller
- Department of Biology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Animal Cell and Systems Biology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Alex Dulovic
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Jens Gruber
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Johanna Griesbaum
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | | | - Clemens Wülfing
- Department of Biology, Interdisciplinary Neurobiology and Immunology, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Animal Cell and Systems Biology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jana Kruse
- Department of Biology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Animal Cell and Systems Biology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Annika Hartmann
- Department of Biology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Animal Cell and Systems Biology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Esther K Diekhof
- Department of Biology, Neuroendocrinology and Human Biology Unit, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Institute for Animal Cell and Systems Biology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
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Andreasson A, Tognetti A, Jones M, Lekander M, Lasselin J. Assessing sickness behavior in the French: Validation of the French translation of the sickness questionnaire (SicknessQ) in a non-clinical French population. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 34:100708. [PMID: 38058984 PMCID: PMC10695833 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sickness Questionnaire (SicknessQ) is a questionnaire developed to assess symptoms of sickness behavior, including somatic, behavioral, and affective dimensions. To promote cross-cultural assessments of sickness behavior, we aim to expand the use of this questionnaire to other populations and languages. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the French translation of SicknessQ in a French-speaking general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. One hundred and thirty-nine individuals completed the SicknessQ online, along with the construct criteria measures of self-rated health, state anxiety (STAI-S), and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). The principal component analyses revealed two components: the first component included seven items concerning mood, motivation and experiences of fatigue and pain; the second component included three items concerning somatic sickness symptoms. Higher scores on the total scale and the two component subscales were associated with poorer self-rated health and higher STAI-S and PHQ-9 scores. Since the associations with construct criteria variables were relatively similar between the single- and the two-dimensional solutions, both the total scale and the subscales of the two components of the French SicknessQ can be used in future studies to measure sickness behavior in French-speaking populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Andreasson
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Arnaud Tognetti
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- CEE-M, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Mike Jones
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Mats Lekander
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Osher Center for Integrative Health, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julie Lasselin
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Osher Center for Integrative Health, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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10
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Faig KE, Necka EA, Smith KE, Dimitroff SJ, Norman GJ. Resting parasympathetic activity is associated with malodor-induced change in perceived foreignness of speakers. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3249. [PMID: 37735857 PMCID: PMC10636398 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To protect against infection, individuals have evolved context-dependent pathogen-avoidant strategies, including selective social behaviors aimed at avoiding foreign individuals who may possess greater risk of infection. Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity is associated with social engagement and regulation of the classical immune system but has not been widely investigated in relation to changes in intergroup perception and the behavioral immune system. METHOD The current research investigated the relationship between parasympathetic activity and perceived foreignness of in and outgroup speakers during exposure to a pathogen-relevant odor (butyric acid). High-frequency heart rate variability was measured at rest and while participants rated foreignness of speakers with and without the odor present. RESULTS Findings show that exposure to the odor was associated with higher foreignness perceptions of outgroup speakers and lower foreignness perceptions of ingroup speakers. This effect was especially evident among individuals with higher resting parasympathetic activity. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the PNS may play a role in changes in social perceptions during a behavioral immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E. Faig
- Department of PsychologyHamilton CollegeClintonNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Karen E. Smith
- Department of PsychologyRutgers University‐NewarkNewarkNew JerseyUSA
| | | | - Greg J. Norman
- Department of PsychologyThe University of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
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11
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Di Cicco F, Evans RL, James AG, Weddell I, Chopra A, Smeets MAM. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting axillary odor variation. A comprehensive review. Physiol Behav 2023; 270:114307. [PMID: 37516230 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Humans produce odorous secretions from multiple body sites according to the microbiomic profile of each area and the types of secretory glands present. Because the axilla is an active, odor-producing region that mediates social communication via the sense of smell, this article focuses on the biological mechanisms underlying the creation of axillary odor, as well as the intrinsic and extrinsic factors likely to impact the odor and determine individual differences. The list of intrinsic factors discussed includes sex, age, ethnicity, emotions, and personality, and extrinsic factors include dietary choices, diseases, climate, and hygienic habits. In addition, we also draw attention to gaps in our understanding of each factor, including, for example, topical areas such as the effect of climate on body odor variation. Fundamental challenges and emerging research opportunities are further outlined in the discussion. Finally, we suggest guidelines and best practices based on the factors reviewed herein for preparatory protocols of sweat collection, data analysis, and interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Cicco
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, Utrecht, CS 3584, the Netherlands.
| | - Richard L Evans
- Unilever Research & Development, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Bebington, UK
| | - A Gordon James
- Unilever Research & Development, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, UK
| | - Iain Weddell
- Unilever Research & Development, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Bebington, UK
| | - Anita Chopra
- Unilever Research & Development, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Bebington, UK
| | - Monique A M Smeets
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, Utrecht, CS 3584, the Netherlands; Unilever Research & Development, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Gordon AR, Lundström JN, Kimball BA, Karshikoff B, Sorjonen K, Axelsson J, Lekander M, Olsson MJ. Human scent as a first-line defense against disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16709. [PMID: 37794120 PMCID: PMC10550911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43145-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals may have a different body odor, when they are sick compared to healthy. In the non-human animal literature, olfactory cues have been shown to predict avoidance of sick individuals. We tested whether the mere experimental activation of the innate immune system in healthy human individuals can make an individuals' body odor be perceived as more aversive (intense, unpleasant, and disgusting). Following an endotoxin injection (lipopolysaccharide; 0.6 ng/kg) that creates a transient systemic inflammation, individuals smelled more unpleasant compared to a placebo group (saline injection). Behavioral and chemical analyses of the body odor samples suggest that the volatile components of samples from "sick" individuals changed qualitatively rather than quantitatively. Our findings support the hypothesis that odor cues of inflammation in axillary sweat are detectable just a few hours after experimental activation of the innate immune system. As such, they may trigger behavioral avoidance, hence constituting a first line of defense against pathogens of infected conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy R Gordon
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels Väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan N Lundström
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels Väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Lukt och smakmottagningen, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm University Brain Imaging Centre, Stockholm University, 106 54, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Bianka Karshikoff
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels Väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Social Studies, University of Stavanger, 4021, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Kimmo Sorjonen
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels Väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Axelsson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels Väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 54, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Lekander
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels Väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 54, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats J Olsson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels Väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
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13
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Hansson LS, Lasselin J, Tognetti A, Axelsson J, Olsson MJ, Sundelin T, Lekander M. The walking sick: Perception of experimental sickness from biological motion. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:319-327. [PMID: 37517742 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of sick conspecifics allows for avoidance of infectious threats, and is therefore an important behavioral defense against diseases. Here, we investigated if humans can identify sick individuals solely from biological motion and posture (using point-light displays). Additionally, we sought to determine which movements and sickness parameters would predict such detection. We collected video clips and derived point-light displays (one stride presented in a loop) of sick walkers (injected with lipopolysaccharide at 2.0 ng/kg body weight) and the same walkers when healthy (injected with saline). We then presented these displays to two groups, one group classified each walker as sick or healthy (study 1, n = 106), and the other group scored the walkers' health on a visual analogue scale (study 2, n = 106). The raters were able to identify sick individuals above chance, and rated sick walkers as having worse health, both from observing video clips and point-light displays. Furthermore, both sickness detection and worse apparent health were predicted by inflammation-induced increase in rigidity and slower walking, but not other cues. Altogether, these findings indicate that biological motion can serve as a sickness cue, possibly allowing humans to identify sick conspecifics from a distance, and thereby allowing for disease avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Hansson
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Osher Center for Integrative Health, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J Lasselin
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Osher Center for Integrative Health, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - A Tognetti
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J Axelsson
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M J Olsson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T Sundelin
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Lekander
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Osher Center for Integrative Health, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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14
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Schwambergová D, Pátková Ž, Třebická Fialová J, Třebický V, Stella D, Havlíček J. Immunoactivation Affects Perceived Body Odor and Facial but Not Vocal Attractiveness. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 21:14747049231218010. [PMID: 38087426 PMCID: PMC10722934 DOI: 10.1177/14747049231218010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Several previous studies have shown that in mammals, the health status of conspecifics can be assessed based on perceptual cues. Olfactory, visual, or acoustic cues may lead to avoidant behavior, thus reducing the risk of contagion by close contact with infected individuals. We tested whether immune system activation after immunization leads to perceptible changes in body odor and facial and vocal attractiveness in humans. We have experimentally activated the immune system of male participants using vaccination against hepatitis A/B and meningococcus. Their body odor, facial photographs, and vocal recordings were collected before and 14 days after vaccination. Subsequently, the body odor samples, facial photographs, and vocal recordings were assessed by female raters for their attractiveness and healthiness. We have also measured skin coloration (from facial photographs and in vivo using a spectrophotometer), vocal parameters, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as a marker of inflammation. We found an increase in perceived body odor attractiveness, a decrease in facial attractiveness and healthiness, and no change in vocal attractiveness 14 days after vaccination compared to the prevaccination condition. Moreover, there was no change in facial coloration or vocal parameters between the prevaccination and postvaccination conditions. Prevaccination CRP levels were negatively associated with body odor and facial attractiveness and positively associated with body odor intensity. Overall, our results suggest that perceived body odor as well as facial but not vocal attractiveness may provide cues to activation of the immune response and that each modality may carry specific information about the individual's condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Schwambergová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Žaneta Pátková
- Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Vít Třebický
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Stella
- Department of the Human Dimensions of Global Change, Global Change Research Institute CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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15
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Tognetti A, Thunell E, Zakrzewska M, Olofsson J, Lekander M, Axelsson J, Olsson MJ. Discriminating between sick and healthy faces based on early sickness cues: an exploratory analysis of sex differences. Evol Med Public Health 2023; 11:386-396. [PMID: 37941735 PMCID: PMC10629974 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoad032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives It has been argued that sex and disease-related traits should influence how observers respond to sensory sickness cues. In fact, there is evidence that humans can detect sensory cues related to infection in others, but lack of power from earlier studies prevents any firm conclusion regarding whether perception of sickness cues is associated with sex and disease-related personality traits. Here, we tested whether women (relative to men), individuals with poorer self-reported health, and who are more sensitive to disgust, vulnerable to disease, and concerned about their health, overestimate the presence of, and/or are better at detecting sickness cues. Methodology In a large online study, 343 women and 340 men were instructed to identify the sick faces from a series of sick and healthy photographs of volunteers with an induced acute experimental inflammation. Participants also completed several disease-related questionnaires. Results While both men and women could discriminate between sick and healthy individuals above chance level, exploratory analyses revealed that women outperformed men in accuracy and speed of discrimination. Furthermore, we demonstrated that higher disgust sensitivity to body odors is associated with a more liberal decision criterion for categorizing faces as sick. Conclusion Our findings give strong support for the human ability to discriminate between sick and healthy individuals based on early facial cues of sickness and suggest that women are significantly, although only slightly, better at this task. If this finding is replicated, future studies should determine whether women's better performance is related to increased avoidance of sick individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Tognetti
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- CEE-M, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Evelina Thunell
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marta Zakrzewska
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas Olofsson
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Lekander
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Osher Center for Integrative Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Axelsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats J Olsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Loos HM, Schaal B, Pause BM, Smeets MAM, Ferdenzi C, Roberts SC, de Groot J, Lübke KT, Croy I, Freiherr J, Bensafi M, Hummel T, Havlíček J. Past, Present, and Future of Human Chemical Communication Research. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023:17456916231188147. [PMID: 37669015 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231188147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Although chemical signaling is an essential mode of communication in most vertebrates, it has long been viewed as having negligible effects in humans. However, a growing body of evidence shows that the sense of smell affects human behavior in social contexts ranging from affiliation and parenting to disease avoidance and social threat. This article aims to (a) introduce research on human chemical communication in the historical context of the behavioral sciences; (b) provide a balanced overview of recent advances that describe individual differences in the emission of semiochemicals and the neural mechanisms underpinning their perception, that together demonstrate communicative function; and (c) propose directions for future research toward unraveling the molecular principles involved and understanding the variability in the generation, transmission, and reception of chemical signals in increasingly ecologically valid conditions. Achieving these goals will enable us to address some important societal challenges but are within reach only with the aid of genuinely interdisciplinary approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene M Loos
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Department of Sensory Analytics and Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
| | - Benoist Schaal
- Development of Olfactory Cognition and Communication Lab, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS UMR 6265, Université de Bourgogne
| | - Bettina M Pause
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
| | | | - Camille Ferdenzi
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier
| | | | | | - Katrin T Lübke
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
| | - Ilona Croy
- Institute for Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
| | - Jessica Freiherr
- Department of Sensory Analytics and Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
| | - Moustafa Bensafi
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden
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17
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Tognetti A, Williams MN, Lybert N, Lekander M, Axelsson J, Olsson MJ. Humans can detect axillary odor cues of an acute respiratory infection in others. Evol Med Public Health 2023; 11:219-228. [PMID: 37426329 PMCID: PMC10324639 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoad016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Body odor conveys information about health status to conspecifics and influences approach-avoidance behaviors in animals. Experiments that induce sickness in otherwise healthy individuals suggest that humans too can detect sensory cues to infection in others. Here, we investigated whether individuals could detect through smell a naturally occurring acute respiratory infection in others and whether sickness severity, measured via body temperature and sickness symptoms, was associated with the accuracy of detection. Methodology Body odor samples were collected from 20 donors, once while healthy and once while sick with an acute respiratory infection. Using a double-blind, two-alternative forced-choice method, 80 raters were instructed to identify the sick body odor from paired sick and healthy samples (i.e. 20 pairs). Results Sickness detection was significantly above chance, although the magnitude of the effect was low (56.7%). Raters' sex and disgust sensitivity were not associated with the accuracy of sickness detection. However, we find some indication that greater change in donor body temperature, but not sickness symptoms, between sick and healthy conditions improved sickness detection accuracy. Conclusion and implications Our findings suggest that humans can detect individuals with an acute respiratory infection through smell, albeit only slightly better than chance. Humans, similar to other animals, are likely able to use sickness odor cues to guide adaptive behaviors that decrease the risk of contagion, such as social avoidance. Further studies should determine how well humans can detect specific infections through body odor, such as Covid-19, and how multisensory cues to infection are used simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Tognetti
- Corresponding author. Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden; E-mail:
| | | | - Nathalie Lybert
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Lekander
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Osher Center for Integrative Health, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Axelsson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats J Olsson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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18
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Behavioral and physiological sensitivity to natural sick faces. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 110:195-211. [PMID: 36893923 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The capacity to rapidly detect and avoid sick people may be adaptive. Given that faces are reliably available, as well as rapidly detected and processed, they may provide health information that influences social interaction. Prior studies used faces that were manipulated to appear sick (e.g., editing photos, inducing inflammatory response); however, responses to naturally sick faces remain largely unexplored. We tested whether adults detected subtle cues of genuine, acute, potentially contagious illness in face photos compared to the same individuals when healthy. We tracked illness symptoms and severity with the Sickness Questionnaire and Common Cold Questionnaire. We also checked that sick and healthy photos were matched on low-level features. We found that participants (N = 109) rated sick faces, compared to healthy faces, as sicker, more dangerous, and eliciting more unpleasant feelings. Participants (N = 90) rated sick faces as more likely to be avoided, more tired, and more negative in expression than healthy faces. In a passive-viewing eye-tracking task, participants (N = 50) looked longer at healthy than sick faces, especially the eye region, suggesting people may be more drawn to healthy conspecifics. When making approach-avoidance decisions, participants (N = 112) had greater pupil dilation to sick than healthy faces, and more pupil dilation was associated with greater avoidance, suggesting elevated arousal to threat. Across all experiments, participants' behaviors correlated with the degree of sickness, as reported by the face donors, suggesting a nuanced, fine-tuned sensitivity. Together, these findings suggest that humans may detect subtle threats of contagion from sick faces, which may facilitate illness avoidance. By better understanding how humans naturally avoid illness in conspecifics, we may identify what information is used and ultimately improve public health.
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19
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Nikolic M, Pezzoli P, Jaworska N, Seto MC. Brain responses in aggression-prone individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of anger- and aggression-eliciting tasks. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 119:110596. [PMID: 35803398 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Reactive aggression in response to perceived threat or provocation is part of humans' adaptive behavioral repertoire. However, high levels of aggression can lead to the violation of social and legal norms. Understanding brain function in individuals with high levels of aggression as they process anger- and aggression-eliciting stimuli is critical for refining explanatory models of aggression and thereby improving interventions. Three neurobiological models of reactive aggression - the limbic hyperactivity, prefrontal hypoactivity, and dysregulated limbic-prefrontal connectivity models - have been proposed. However, these models are based on neuroimaging studies involving mainly non-aggressive individuals, leaving it unclear which model best describes brain function in those with a history of aggression. We conducted a systematic literature search (PubMed and Psycinfo) and Multilevel Kernel Density meta-analysis (MKDA) of nine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies (eight included in the between-group analysis [i.e., aggression vs. control groups], five in the within-group analysis). Studies examined brain responses to tasks putatively eliciting anger and aggression in individuals with a history of aggression alone and relative to controls. Individuals with a history of aggression exhibited greater activity in the superior temporal gyrus and in regions comprising the cognitive control and default mode networks (right posterior cingulate cortex, precentral gyrus, precuneus, right inferior frontal gyrus) during reactive aggression relative to baseline conditions. Compared to controls, individuals with a history of aggression exhibited increased activity in limbic regions (left hippocampus, left amygdala, left parahippocampal gyrus) and temporal regions (superior, middle, inferior temporal gyrus), and reduced activity in occipital regions (left occipital cortex, left calcarine cortex). These findings lend support to the limbic hyperactivity model in individuals with a history of aggression, and further indicate altered temporal and occipital activity in anger- and aggression-eliciting conditions involving face and speech processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Nikolic
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Patrizia Pezzoli
- University College London, London, United Kingdom; University of Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research at The Royal, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Natalia Jaworska
- University of Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research at The Royal, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Michael C Seto
- University of Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research at The Royal, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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20
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Anja Juran S, Tognetti A, Lundström JN, Kumar L, Stevenson RJ, Lekander M, Olsson MJ. Disgusting odors trigger the oral immune system. Evol Med Public Health 2022; 11:8-17. [PMID: 36789013 PMCID: PMC9912705 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoac042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research has characterized the behavioral defense against disease. In particular the detection of sickness cues, the adaptive reactions (e.g. avoidance) to these cues and the mediating role of disgust have been the focus. A presumably important but less investigated part of a behavioral defense is the immune system response of the observer of sickness cues. Odors are intimately connected to disease and disgust, and research has shown how olfaction conveys sickness cues in both animals and humans. This study aims to test whether odorous sickness cues (i.e. disgusting odors) can trigger a preparatory immune response in humans. We show that subjective and objective disgust measures, as well as TNFα levels in saliva increased immediately after exposure to disgusting odors in a sample of 36 individuals. Altogether, these results suggest a collaboration between behavioral mechanisms of pathogen avoidance in olfaction, mediated by the emotion of disgust, and mechanisms of pathogen elimination facilitated by inflammatory mediators. Disgusting stimuli are associated with an increased risk of infection. We here test whether disgusting odors, can trigger an immune response in the oral cavity. The results indicate an increase level of TNFα in the saliva. This supports that disease cues can trigger a preparatory response in the oral cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arnaud Tognetti
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan N Lundström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lalit Kumar
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Mats Lekander
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden,Osher Center for Integrative Health, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats J Olsson
- Corresponding author: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE 17177, Sweden. Tel: +46 707 135205; E-mail:
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21
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Wicks LAM, Baldwin DR, Richesin MT. Disgust-Eliciting Pathogen Threats and Salivary Immune Responses. J PSYCHOPHYSIOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1027/0269-8803/a000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. This study aimed to examine the effects of different sensory modality presentations of disgusting stimuli on aspects of immunity (behavioral and physiological) and affect in men and women. Sixty-four college students participated, and all participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups based on sensory modality stimuli type (visual or olfactory) and manipulation (experimental or control). Results indicated that olfactory stimuli were rated as more disgusting than visual stimuli. When collapsed across sensory modality, females tended to self-report greater disgust sensitivity than males. Overall, there was a significant negative association between disgust ratings and changes in resting heart rate (HR). Baseline salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration was significantly positively correlated with disgust ratings in men. Our findings suggest that the behavioral and physiological immune systems are indeed coordinated, but future studies are needed to examine the extent to which multisensory disgusting cues influence immune system responses as a function of gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lahai A. M. Wicks
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Debora R. Baldwin
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
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22
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Pátková Ž, Schwambergová D, Třebická Fialová J, Třebický V, Stella D, Kleisner K, Havlíček J. Attractive and healthy-looking male faces do not show higher immunoreactivity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18432. [PMID: 36319732 PMCID: PMC9626598 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22866-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has indicated that facial attractiveness may provide cues to the functioning of the immune system. Mating with individuals who have a more effective immune system could lead to a higher reproductive success. Our main aim was to test a possible association between immunoreactivity (stimulated by vaccination) and perceived facial attractiveness and healthiness. We experimentally activated the immune system of healthy men using vaccination against hepatitis A/B and meningococcus and measured levels of specific antibodies (markers of immune system reactivity) before and 30 days after the vaccination. Further, 1 day before the vaccination, we collected their facial photographs that were judged by females for attractiveness, healthiness, and facial skin patches for healthiness. In view of its proposed connection with the functioning of the immune system, we also measured skin colouration (both from the facial photographs and in vivo using a spectrophotometer) and we assessed its role in attractiveness and healthiness judgements. Moreover, we measured the levels of steroid hormones (testosterone and cortisol) and the percentage of adipose tissue, because both are known to have immunomodulatory properties and are related to perceived facial attractiveness and healthiness. We found no significant associations between antibody levels induced by vaccination and perceived facial attractiveness, facial healthiness, or skin healthiness. We also found no significant connections between steroid hormone levels, the amount of adipose tissue, rated characteristics, and antibody levels, except for a small negative effect of cortisol levels on perceived facial healthiness. Higher forehead redness was perceived as less attractive and less healthy and higher cheek patch redness was perceived as less healthy, but no significant association was found between antibody levels and facial colouration. Overall, our results suggest that perceived facial attractiveness, healthiness, and skin patch healthiness provide limited cues to immunoreactivity, and perceived characteristics seem to be related only to cortisol levels and facial colouration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Žaneta Pátková
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Dagmar Schwambergová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Vít Třebický
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, José Martího 269, 162 52, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Stella
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Kleisner
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
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Filipowicz A, Lalsiamthara J, Aballay A. Dissection of a sensorimotor circuit underlying pathogen aversion in C. elegans. BMC Biol 2022; 20:229. [PMID: 36209082 PMCID: PMC9548130 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01424-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altering animal behavior to reduce pathogen exposure is a key line of defense against pathogen attack. In Caenorhabditis elegans, alterations in intestinal physiology caused by pathogen colonization and sensation of microbial metabolites may lead to activation of pathogen aversive behaviors ranging from aversive reflexes to learned avoidance. However, the neural circuitry between chemosensory neurons that sense pathogenic bacterial cues and the motor neurons responsible for avoidance-associated locomotion remains unknown. RESULTS Using C. elegans, we found that backward locomotion was a component of learned pathogen avoidance, as animals pre-exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Enterococcus faecalis showed reflexive aversion to drops of the bacteria driven by chemosensory neurons, including the olfactory AWB neurons. This response also involved intestinal distention and, for E. faecalis, required expression of TRPM channels in the intestine and excretory system. Additionally, we uncovered a circuit composed of olfactory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons that controls the backward locomotion crucial for learned reflexive aversion to pathogenic bacteria, learned avoidance, and the repulsive odor 2-nonanone. CONCLUSIONS Using whole-brain simulation and functional assays, we uncovered a novel sensorimotor circuit governing learned reflexive aversion. The discovery of a complete sensorimotor circuit for reflexive aversion demonstrates the utility of using the C. elegans connectome and computational modeling in uncovering new neuronal regulators of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Filipowicz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Jonathan Lalsiamthara
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Alejandro Aballay
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
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Cover your mouth! Disease avoidance predicts the stigmatization of yawning. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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25
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Lopes PC. Anticipating infection: how parasitism risk changes animal physiology. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia C. Lopes
- Schmid College of Science and Technology Chapman University Orange CA USA
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26
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Ravreby I, Snitz K, Sobel N. There is chemistry in social chemistry. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn0154. [PMID: 35749498 PMCID: PMC9232116 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn0154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Nonhuman terrestrial mammals sniff themselves and each other to decide who is friend or foe. Humans also sniff themselves and each other, but the function of this is unknown. Because humans seek friends who are similar to themselves, we hypothesized that humans may smell themselves and others to subconsciously estimate body odor similarity, which, in turn, may promote friendship. To test this, we recruited nonromantic same-sex friend dyads and harvested their body odor. We found that objective ratings obtained with an electronic nose, and subjective ratings obtained from independent human smellers converged to suggest that friends smell more similar to each other than random dyads. Last, we recruited complete strangers, smelled them with an electronic nose, and engaged them in nonverbal same-sex dyadic interactions. We observed that dyads who smelled more similar had more positive dyadic interactions. In other words, we could predict social bonding with an electronic nose. We conclude that there is indeed chemistry in social chemistry.
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van Leeuwen F, Jaeger B. Pathogen disgust sensitivity: Individual differences in pathogen perception or pathogen avoidance? MOTIVATION AND EMOTION 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11031-022-09937-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe emotion disgust motivates the avoidance of pathogens and contaminants. Individuals differ in their tendency to experience disgust and this is referred to as pathogen disgust sensitivity. Yet, it remains unclear which differences in psychological processes are captured by pathogen disgust sensitivity. We tested two hypotheses about how the information processing structure underlying pathogen avoidance might give rise to individual differences in pathogen disgust sensitivity. Participants (n = 998) rated the perceived health of individuals with or without facial blemishes and indicated how comfortable they would feel about having physical contact with them. For participants with high disgust sensitivity, facial blemishes were more indicative of poor health and perceived health was more strongly related to comfort with physical contact. These findings suggest that pathogen disgust sensitivity reflects individual differences in the tendency to interpret stimuli as an infection risk and the weight given to estimated infection risk when deciding who should be approached or avoided.
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28
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Kessler SE, Aunger R. The evolution of the human healthcare system and implications for understanding our responses to COVID-19. Evol Med Public Health 2022; 10:87-107. [PMID: 35284079 PMCID: PMC8908543 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoac004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed an urgent need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary understanding of how healthcare systems respond successfully to infectious pathogens-and how they fail. This study contributes a novel perspective that focuses on the selective pressures that shape healthcare systems over evolutionary time. We use a comparative approach to trace the evolution of care-giving and disease control behaviours across species and then map their integration into the contemporary human healthcare system. Self-care and pro-health environmental modification are ubiquitous across animals, while derived behaviours like care for kin, for strangers, and group-level organizational responses have evolved via different selection pressures. We then apply this framework to our behavioural responses to COVID-19 and demonstrate that three types of conflicts are occurring: (1) conflicting selection pressures on individuals, (2) evolutionary mismatches between the context in which our healthcare behaviours evolved and our globalized world of today and (3) evolutionary displacements in which older forms of care are currently dispensed through more derived forms. We discuss the significance of understanding how healthcare systems evolve and change for thinking about the role of healthcare systems in society during and after the time of COVID-19-and for us as a species as we continue to face selection from infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon E Kessler
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Robert Aunger
- Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP, Tyson CD, Bishnoi IR, Choleris E. Social factors and the neurobiology of pathogen avoidance. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20210371. [PMID: 35193366 PMCID: PMC8864371 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the evolutionary causes and consequences of pathogen avoidance have been gaining increasing interest, there has been less attention paid to the proximate neurobiological mechanisms. Animals gauge the infection status of conspecifics and the threat they represent on the basis of various sensory and social cues. Here, we consider the neurobiology of pathogen detection and avoidance from a cognitive, motivational and affective state (disgust) perspective, focusing on the mechanisms associated with activating and directing parasite/pathogen avoidance. Drawing upon studies with laboratory rodents, we briefly discuss aspects of (i) olfactory-mediated recognition and avoidance of infected conspecifics; (ii) relationships between pathogen avoidance and various social factors (e.g. social vigilance, social distancing (approach/avoidance), social salience and social reward); (iii) the roles of various brain regions (in particular the amygdala and insular cortex) and neuromodulators (neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, steroidal hormones and immune components) in the regulation of pathogen avoidance. We propose that understanding the proximate neurobiological mechanisms can provide insights into the ecological and evolutionary consequences of the non-consumptive effects of pathogens and how, when and why females and males engage in pathogen avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kavaliers
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Klaus-Peter Ossenkopp
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1
| | - Cashmeira-Dove Tyson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1
| | - Indra R. Bishnoi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
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Leschak CJ, Hornstein EA, Byrne Haltom KE, Johnson KL, Breen EC, Irwin MR, Eisenberger NI. Ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity differentiates sick from healthy faces: Associations with inflammatory responses and disease avoidance motivation. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 100:48-54. [PMID: 34808294 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans are able to discern the health status of others using olfactory and visual cues, and subsequently shift behavior to make infection less likely. However, little is known about how this process occurs. The present study examined the neural regions involved in differentiating healthy from sick individuals using visual cues. METHODS While undergoing a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan, participants (N = 42) viewed facial photos of 30 individuals (targets) who had been injected with an inflammatory challenge--low-dose endotoxin (i.e., sick) or placebo (i.e., healthy), and rated how much they liked each face. We examined regions implicated in processing either threat (amygdala, anterior insula) or cues that signal safety (ventromedial prefrontal cortex [VMPFC]), and how this activity related to their liking of targets and cytokine levels (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α) exhibited by the targets. RESULTS Photos of sick faces were rated as less likeable compared to healthy faces, and the least liked faces were those individuals with the greatest inflammatory response. While threat-related regions were not significantly active in response to viewing sick faces, the VMPFC was more active in response to viewing healthy (vs. sick) faces. Follow-up analyses revealed that participants tended to have lower VMPFC activity when viewing the least liked faces and the faces of those with the greatest inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS This work builds on prior work implicating the VMPFC in signaling the presence of safe, non-threatening visual stimuli, and suggests the VMPFC may be sensitive to cues signaling relative safety in the context of pathogen threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrianne J Leschak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Erica A Hornstein
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Kate E Byrne Haltom
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Kerri L Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Department of Communication, University of California, Los Angeles, 2330 Rolfe Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Elizabeth C Breen
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, 300 UCLA Medical Plaza #3109, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Michael R Irwin
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, 300 UCLA Medical Plaza #3109, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Naomi I Eisenberger
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
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31
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The social odor scale: Development and initial validation of a new scale for the assessment of social odor awareness. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260587. [PMID: 34905551 PMCID: PMC8670672 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The degree of attention individuals pay to olfactory cues (called odor awareness) influences the role of odors in everyday life. Particularly, odors produced by the human body (i.e., social odors) are able to carry a wide variety of information and to elicit a broad spectrum of emotional reactions, making them essential in interpersonal relationships. Hence, despite the assessment of awareness toward social odors is crucial, a proper tool is still lacking. Here, we designed and initially validated the Social Odor Scale (SOS), a 12-item scale designed to measure the individual differences in awareness towards different social odors. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA; KMO test: MSA = 0.78; Bartlett's test: χ2(78) = 631.34, p < 0.001; Chi-squared test: χ2(42) = 71.84, p = 0.003) suggests that the three factors structure was the model that best fit with the Italian version of the scale. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supports a second-order model with one higher-order factor representing social odor awareness in general and three lower-order factors representing familiar, romantic partner, and stranger social odors. The final version of the scale presented a good fit (RMSEA = 0.012, SRMR = 0.069, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.997). In Study 2, CFA was performed in the German version of the scale confirming the validity of scale structure. Study 3 and 4 revealed that SOS total score and its subscales were positively correlated with other validated olfactory scales, but not with olfactory abilities. Moreover, SOS was found to be related to the gender of the participants: women reported to be more aware to social odors and, specifically, to familiar social odors than men. Overall, the results indicated that SOS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess awareness toward social odors in everyday life.
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32
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Sakai H, Harada T, Larroque SK, Demertzi A, Sugawara T, Ito T, Wada Y, Fukunaga M, Sadato N, Laureys S. Left parietal involvement in motion sickness susceptibility revealed by multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 43:1103-1111. [PMID: 34783415 PMCID: PMC8764490 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Susceptibility to motion sickness varies greatly across individuals. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this susceptibility remain largely unclear. To address this gap, the current study aimed to identify the neural correlates of motion sickness susceptibility using multimodal MRI. First, we compared resting-state functional connectivity between healthy individuals who were highly susceptible to motion sickness (N = 36) and age/sex-matched controls who showed low susceptibility (N = 36). Seed-based analysis revealed between-group differences in functional connectivity of core vestibular regions in the left posterior Sylvian fissure. A data-driven approach using intrinsic connectivity contrast found greater network centrality of the left intraparietal sulcus in high- rather than in low-susceptible individuals. Moreover, exploratory structural connectivity analysis uncovered an association between motion sickness susceptibility and white matter integrity in the left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. Taken together, our data indicate left parietal involvement in motion sickness susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen K Larroque
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Athena Demertzi
- Physiology of Cognition Research Lab, GIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Taeko Ito
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Wada
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Masaki Fukunaga
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Norihiro Sadato
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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Lasselin J. Back to the future of psychoneuroimmunology: Studying inflammation-induced sickness behavior. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 18:100379. [PMID: 34761246 PMCID: PMC8566772 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
What do we know about sickness behavior? In this article, I guide you through some of the complexity of sickness behavior occurring after an immune challenge. I highlight the many features of behavioral and affective changes induced during experimental endotoxemia in humans, and describe how little we know about many of these features. I argue that we need to dismantle the components of inflammation-induced sickness behavior, and study each component in detail. I also point out the large inter-individual differences in inflammation-induced behavioral and affective changes, and the fact that psychosocial factors likely interact with inflammation to shape inflammation-induced sickness behavior. PNI clearly lacks investigations of the vulnerability and resilient factors underlying the inter-individual variability in sickness behavior. Throughout the article, I base my argument on my published articles, and provide concrete examples from my experience and the data that I have collected over the past 10 years. Given the relevance of inflammation-induced sickness behavior for inflammation-associated depression and for how people react to infections, I encourage current and future psychoneuroimmunologists to return towards basic science of sickness behavior. Inflammation-related sickness behavior is relevant for inflammation-associated depression The many features of sickness behavior should be investigated in detail There are large inter-individual variability in sickness behavior Vulnerability and resilient factors predicting sickness responses are little known I call for a return towards basic science of sickness behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Lasselin
- Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, ME Neuroradiologi, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
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Fevers and the social costs of acute infection in wild vervet monkeys. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2107881118. [PMID: 34716266 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107881118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Fevers are considered an adaptive response by the host to infection. For gregarious animals, however, fever and the associated sickness behaviors may signal a temporary loss of capacity, offering other group members competitive opportunities. We implanted wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) with miniature data loggers to obtain continuous measurements of core body temperature. We detected 128 fevers in 43 monkeys, totaling 776 fever-days over a 6-year period. Fevers were characterized by a persistent elevation in mean and minimum 24-h body temperature of at least 0.5 °C. Corresponding behavioral data indicated that febrile monkeys spent more time resting and less time feeding, consistent with the known sickness behaviors of lethargy and anorexia, respectively. We found no evidence that fevers influenced the time individuals spent socializing with conspecifics, suggesting social transmission of infection within a group is likely. Notably, febrile monkeys were targeted with twice as much aggression from their conspecifics and were six times more likely to become injured compared to afebrile monkeys. Our results suggest that sickness behavior, together with its agonistic consequences, can carry meaningful costs for highly gregarious mammals. The degree to which social factors modulate the welfare of infected animals is an important aspect to consider when attempting to understand the ecological implications of disease.
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Damon F, Mezrai N, Magnier L, Leleu A, Durand K, Schaal B. Olfaction in the Multisensory Processing of Faces: A Narrative Review of the Influence of Human Body Odors. Front Psychol 2021; 12:750944. [PMID: 34675855 PMCID: PMC8523678 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.750944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A recent body of research has emerged regarding the interactions between olfaction and other sensory channels to process social information. The current review examines the influence of body odors on face perception, a core component of human social cognition. First, we review studies reporting how body odors interact with the perception of invariant facial information (i.e., identity, sex, attractiveness, trustworthiness, and dominance). Although we mainly focus on the influence of body odors based on axillary odor, we also review findings about specific steroids present in axillary sweat (i.e., androstenone, androstenol, androstadienone, and estratetraenol). We next survey the literature showing body odor influences on the perception of transient face properties, notably in discussing the role of body odors in facilitating or hindering the perception of emotional facial expression, in relation to competing frameworks of emotions. Finally, we discuss the developmental origins of these olfaction-to-vision influences, as an emerging literature indicates that odor cues strongly influence face perception in infants. Body odors with a high social relevance such as the odor emanating from the mother have a widespread influence on various aspects of face perception in infancy, including categorization of faces among other objects, face scanning behavior, or facial expression perception. We conclude by suggesting that the weight of olfaction might be especially strong in infancy, shaping social perception, especially in slow-maturing senses such as vision, and that this early tutoring function of olfaction spans all developmental stages to disambiguate a complex social environment by conveying key information for social interactions until adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Damon
- Developmental Ethology and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, Inrae, AgroSup Dijon, CNRS (UMR 6265), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
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Schwambergová D, Sorokowska A, Slámová Ž, Třebická Fialová J, Sabiniewicz A, Nowak-Kornicka J, Borkowska B, Pawłowski B, Havlíček J. No evidence for association between human body odor quality and immune system functioning. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 132:105363. [PMID: 34343779 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that women perceive male faces with a more reactive immune system as more attractive, but whether body odor might likewise provide cues to immune function has not been investigated yet. These two studies tested a possible relationship between body odor quality and immunoreactivity (Study 1) and immune system function (Study 2). In Study 1, we collected body odor samples from 21 men just before and two weeks after vaccination against hepatitis A/B and meningococcus. We determined the levels of specific antibodies (selected as markers of immune system's reactivity), testosterone, and cortisol. Subsequently, 88 female raters assessed the odor samples for their attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. In Study 2, we collected body odor and blood samples from 35 men and women. We assessed key parameters of their innate and adaptive immunity, such as complement activity or total lymphocyte T and B counts and asked 95 raters to assess the odor samples for their attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. In Study 1, we found no significant association between antibody levels induced by vaccination and perceived body odor attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. We also found no significant relationship between antibody levels and steroid hormones (testosterone and cortisol). In Study 2, we likewise found no association between basal key parameters (innate and adaptive) of the immune system and body odor quality. Our results indicate that body odor may not serve as a cue to the reactivity of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Schwambergová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic.
| | - Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Žaneta Slámová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic; Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Třebická Fialová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Agnieszka Sabiniewicz
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137 Wroclaw, Poland; Smell and Taste Clinic, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Judyta Nowak-Kornicka
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Borkowska
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Bogusław Pawłowski
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
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Muscatell KA, Inagaki TK. Beyond social withdrawal: New perspectives on the effects of inflammation on social behavior. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 16:100302. [PMID: 34589794 PMCID: PMC8474589 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Decades of research in animals and humans show that inflammation is an important regulator of social behavior. While much research in this area has concluded that inflammation causes a withdrawal from social interaction, closer examination of the literature reveals that the effects of inflammation on social behavior are much more nuanced. Indeed, while many studies do show that increases in inflammation lead to social withdrawal, other studies show the exact opposite, finding that inflammation leads to an increase in social approach behavior. Critically, whether an organism withdraws or approaches when inflamed may depend on the whether the target of the behavior is a close other or a stranger. In the present paper, we review both animal research and our initial research in humans that has utilized experimental manipulations of inflammation and examined their effects on social approach behavior. We argue, based on complementary theoretical perspectives and supporting evidence from the literature, that there are three critical next steps for translational work examining the effects of inflammation on social behavior: (1) We need to study actual social behavior, as expressed toward both close others and strangers; (2) We should examine not just the social behavior of the inflamed individual, but also the behavior of others interacting with an inflamed individual; and (3) We must consider the relative increases in inflammation (i.e., higher vs. lower) as a contributor to social withdrawal vs. approach. Ultimately, we urge the field to move beyond a singular focus on inflammation and social withdrawal so that we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of inflammation on a variety of social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keely A. Muscatell
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
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38
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Iravani B, Peter MG, Arshamian A, Olsson MJ, Hummel T, Kitzler HH, Lundström JN. Acquired olfactory loss alters functional connectivity and morphology. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16422. [PMID: 34385571 PMCID: PMC8361122 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95968-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Removing function from a developed and functional sensory system is known to alter both cerebral morphology and functional connections. To date, a majority of studies assessing sensory-dependent plasticity have focused on effects from either early onset or long-term sensory loss and little is known how the recent sensory loss affects the human brain. With the aim of determining how recent sensory loss affects cerebral morphology and functional connectivity, we assessed differences between individuals with acquired olfactory loss (duration 7-36 months) and matched healthy controls in their grey matter volume, using multivariate pattern analyses, and functional connectivity, using dynamic connectivity analyses, within and from the olfactory cortex. Our results demonstrate that acquired olfactory loss is associated with altered grey matter volume in, among others, posterior piriform cortex, a core olfactory processing area, as well as the inferior frontal gyrus and angular gyrus. In addition, compared to controls, individuals with acquired anosmia displayed significantly stronger dynamic functional connectivity from the posterior piriform cortex to, among others, the angular gyrus, a known multisensory integration area. When assessing differences in dynamic functional connectivity from the angular gyrus, individuals with acquired anosmia had stronger connectivity from the angular gyrus to areas primary responsible for basic visual processing. These results demonstrate that recently acquired sensory loss is associated with both changed cerebral morphology within core olfactory areas and increase dynamic functional connectivity from olfactory cortex to cerebral areas processing multisensory integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Iravani
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Moa G Peter
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Artin Arshamian
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats J Olsson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Hagen H Kitzler
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Johan N Lundström
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Stockholm University Brain Imaging Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Peter MG, Mårtensson G, Postma EM, Engström Nordin L, Westman E, Boesveldt S, Lundström JN. Seeing Beyond Your Nose? The Effects of Lifelong Olfactory Sensory Deprivation on Cerebral Audio-visual Integration. Neuroscience 2021; 472:1-10. [PMID: 34311017 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lifelong auditory and visual sensory deprivation have been demonstrated to alter both perceptual acuity and the neural processing of remaining senses. Recently, it was demonstrated that individuals with anosmia, i.e. complete olfactory sensory deprivation, displayed enhanced multisensory integration performance. Whether this ability is due to a reorganization of olfactory processing regions to focus on cross-modal multisensory information or whether it is due to enhanced processing within multisensory integration regions is not known. To dissociate these two outcomes, we investigated the neural processing of dynamic audio-visual stimuli in individuals with congenital anosmia and matched controls (both groups, n = 33) using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Specifically, we assessed whether the previously demonstrated multisensory enhancement is related to cross-modal processing of multisensory stimuli in olfactory associated regions, the piriform and olfactory orbitofrontal cortices, or enhanced multisensory processing in established multisensory integration regions, the superior temporal and intraparietal sulci. No significant group differences were found in the a priori hypothesized regions using region of interest analyses. However, exploratory whole-brain analysis suggested higher activation related to multisensory integration within the posterior superior temporal sulcus, in close proximity to the multisensory region of interest, in individuals with congenital anosmia. No group differences were demonstrated in olfactory associated regions. Although results were outside our hypothesized regions, combined, they tentatively suggest that enhanced processing of audio-visual stimuli in individuals with congenital anosmia may be mediated by multisensory, and not primary sensory, cerebral regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moa G Peter
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gustav Mårtensson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elbrich M Postma
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Smell and Taste Centre, Hospital Gelderse Vallei, Ede, the Netherlands
| | - Love Engström Nordin
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Diagnostic Medical Physics, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric Westman
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Neuroimaging, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sanne Boesveldt
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Johan N Lundström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States; Stockholm University Brain Imaging Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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40
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Millischer V, Heinzl M, Faka A, Resl M, Trepci A, Klammer C, Egger M, Dieplinger B, Clodi M, Schwieler L. Intravenous administration of LPS activates the kynurenine pathway in healthy male human subjects: a prospective placebo-controlled cross-over trial. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:158. [PMID: 34273987 PMCID: PMC8286561 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02196-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria, also known as the human endotoxemia model, is a standardized and safe model of human inflammation. Experimental studies have revealed that peripheral administration of LPS leads to induction of the kynurenine pathway followed by depressive-like behavior and cognitive dysfunction in animals. The aim of the present study is to investigate how acute intravenous LPS administration affects the kynurenine pathway in healthy male human subjects. Methods The present study is a prospective, single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study to investigate the effects of intravenously administered LPS (Escherichia coli O113, 2 ng/kg) on tryptophan and kynurenine metabolites over 48 h and their association with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The study included 10 healthy, non-smoking men (18–40 years) free from medication. Statistical differences in tryptophan and kynurenine metabolites as well as associations with IL-6 and CRP in LPS and placebo treated subjects were assessed with linear mixed-effects models. Results Systemic injection of LPS was associated with significantly lower concentrations of plasma tryptophan and kynurenine after 4 h, as well as higher concentrations of quinolinic acid (QUIN) after 48 h compared to the placebo injection. No differences were found in kynurenic acid (KYNA) or picolinic acid plasma concentrations between LPS or placebo treatment. The KYNA/kynurenine ratio peaked at 6 h post LPS injection while QUIN/kynurenine maintained significantly higher from 3 h post LPS injection until 24 h. The kynurenine/tryptophan ratio was higher at 24 h and 48 h post LPS treatment. Finally, we report an association between the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio and CRP. Conclusions Our findings strongly support the concept that an inflammatory challenge with LPS induces the kynurenine pathway in humans, activating both the neurotoxic (QUIN) and neuroprotective (KYNA) branch of the kynurenine pathway. Trial registration This study is based on a study registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03392701. Registered 21 December 2017. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-021-02196-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Millischer
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (MMK), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Translational Psychiatry, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Heinzl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder (St. John of God Hospital), Seilerstaette 2, 4021, Linz, Austria.,ICMR-Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, JKU Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Anthi Faka
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Sec. Neuropsychoimmunology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael Resl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder (St. John of God Hospital), Seilerstaette 2, 4021, Linz, Austria.,ICMR-Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, JKU Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Ada Trepci
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Sec. Neuropsychoimmunology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carmen Klammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder (St. John of God Hospital), Seilerstaette 2, 4021, Linz, Austria.,ICMR-Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, JKU Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Margot Egger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder (St. John of God Hospital), Linz, Austria
| | - Benjamin Dieplinger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder (St. John of God Hospital), Linz, Austria
| | - Martin Clodi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder (St. John of God Hospital), Seilerstaette 2, 4021, Linz, Austria. .,ICMR-Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, JKU Linz, Linz, Austria.
| | - Lilly Schwieler
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Sec. Neuropsychoimmunology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Hlay JK, Albert G, Batres C, Richardson G, Placek C, Arnocky S, Lieberman D, Hodges-Simeon CR. The evolution of disgust for pathogen detection and avoidance. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13468. [PMID: 34188198 PMCID: PMC8241835 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91712-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavioral immune system posits that disgust functions to protect animals from pathogen exposure. Therefore, cues of pathogen risk should be a primary driver influencing variation in disgust. Yet, to our knowledge, neither the relationship between current pathogen risk and disgust, nor the correlation between objective and perceived pathogen risk have been addressed using ecologically valid measures in a global sample. The current article reports two studies addressing these gaps. In Study 1, we include a global sample (n = 361) and tested the influence of both perceived pathogen exposure and an objective measure of pathogen risk-local communicable infectious disease mortality rates-on individual differences in pathogen and sexual disgust sensitivities. In Study 2, we first replicate Study 1's analyses in another large sample (n = 821), targeting four countries (US, Italy, Brazil, and India); we then replaced objective and perceived pathogen risk with variables specific to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In Study 1, both local infection mortality rates and perceived infection exposure predicted unique variance in pathogen and sexual disgust. In Study 2, we found that perceived infection exposure positively predicted sexual disgust, as predicted. When substituting perceived and objective SARS-CoV-2 risk in our models, perceived risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 positively predicted pathogen and sexual disgust, and state case rates negatively predicted pathogen disgust. Further, in both studies, objective measures of risk (i.e., local infection mortality and SARS-CoV-2 rates) positively correlated with subjective measures of risk (i.e., perceived infection exposure and perceived SARS-CoV-2 risk). Ultimately, these results provide two pieces of foundational evidence for the behavioral immune system: 1) perceptions of pathogen risk accurately assay local, objective mortality risk across countries, and 2) both perceived and objective pathogen risk explain variance in disgust levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica K Hlay
- Department of Anthropology, Boston University, 232 Bay State Rd. #105, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Graham Albert
- Department of Anthropology, Boston University, 232 Bay State Rd. #105, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Carlota Batres
- Department of Psychology, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, USA
| | - George Richardson
- School of Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Caitlyn Placek
- Department of Anthropology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
| | - Steven Arnocky
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Debra Lieberman
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Carolyn R Hodges-Simeon
- Department of Anthropology, Boston University, 232 Bay State Rd. #105, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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42
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Abstract
Odors may be pleasant or unpleasant and in practice, pleasant odors are attractive while unpleasant odors are repellent. However, an odor that is noxious to one species may be attractive to another. Plants, predators, and pathogens may enhance their transmission by manipulating these signals. This may be especially significant when odors attract arthropod disease vectors. Odor detection may also be important in small prey species for evasion of macropredators such as large carnivores. Conversely, pleasant odors may identify family members, parents, or sexual partners. They may also generate signals of good health or fitness and contribute to the process of mate selection. In this review, we seek to integrate these odor-driven processes into a coherent pattern of behaviors that serve to complement the innate and adaptive immune systems. It may be considered the 'behavioral immune system'.
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43
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Prokosch ML, Airington Z, Murray DR. Investigating the relationship between olfactory acuity, disgust, and mating strategies. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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44
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Abstract
Sickness induced by gastrointestinal malaise or by microbial pathogens is more than a private experience. Sick individuals share their illness within their social environment by communicating their sickness to others. In turn, recipients of the communication respond with appropriate behavioral adaptations. Avoidance of sick individuals and the events associated with their sickness is advantageous for members of the group. However, these responses can conflict with the need for comfort or social support expressed by sick individuals. There is evidence that the relationship between the sick individual and its social environment involves neurobiological mechanisms that are similar to those that mediate social bonding. Despite their commonality the feelings of love and fear/disgust that are associated with the sociality of sickness have thus far been neglected by mainstream affective neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Dantzer
- Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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45
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Hoover KC. Sensory disruption and sensory inequities in the Anthropocene. Evol Anthropol 2021; 30:128-140. [PMID: 33580579 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic disruptions to animal sensory ecology are as old as our species. But what about the effect on human sensory ecology? Human sensory dysfunction is increasing globally at great economic and health costs (mental, physical, and social). Contemporary sensory problems are directly tied to human behavioral changes and activity as well as anthropogenic pollution. The evolutionary sensory ecology and anthropogenic disruptions to three human senses (vision, audition, olfaction) are examined along with the economic and health costs of functionally reduced senses and demographic risk factors contributing to impairment. The primary goals of the paper are (a) to sew an evolutionary and ecological thread through clinical narratives on sensory dysfunction that highlights the impact of the built environment on the senses, and (b) to highlight structural, demographic, and environmental injustices that create sensory inequities in risk and that promote health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara C Hoover
- Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
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46
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Infection threat shapes our social instincts. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021; 75:47. [PMID: 33583997 PMCID: PMC7873116 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-02975-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We social animals must balance the need to avoid infections with the need to interact with conspecifics. To that end we have evolved, alongside our physiological immune system, a suite of behaviors devised to deal with potentially contagious individuals. Focusing mostly on humans, the current review describes the design and biological innards of this behavioral immune system, laying out how infection threat shapes sociality and sociality shapes infection threat. The paper shows how the danger of contagion is detected and posted to the brain; how it affects individuals’ mate choice and sex life; why it strengthens ties within groups but severs those between them, leading to hostility toward anyone who looks, smells, or behaves unusually; and how it permeates the foundation of our moral and political views. This system was already in place when agriculture and animal domestication set off a massive increase in our population density, personal connections, and interaction with other species, amplifying enormously the spread of disease. Alas, pandemics such as COVID-19 not only are a disaster for public health, but, by rousing millions of behavioral immune systems, could prove a threat to harmonious cohabitation too.
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47
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Tognetti A, Sarolidou G, Lasselin J, Lekander M, Olsson MJ, Lundström JN. Acute Systemic Experimental Inflammation Does Not Reduce Human Odor Identification Performance. Chem Senses 2021; 46:6128388. [PMID: 33537776 PMCID: PMC8015794 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjab004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom of various diseases, but the underlying pathophysiology has not been fully understood. Evidence from both animal and human studies suggests that local inflammation of the olfactory epithelium is linked to olfactory dysfunction. However, whether systemic inflammation causes olfactory dysfunction is yet to be determined. In the present behavioral study, we set out to test whether acute systemic inflammation impairs olfactory identification performance by inducing a transient and controlled state of systemic inflammation using an experimental endotoxemia model. We treated young healthy participants (N = 20) with a relatively high dose (2.0 ng/kg) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a placebo treatment in a double-blind within-subject design, and assessed participants’ ability to identify odors using the MONEX-40, a reliable method for experimental assessment of odor identification ability in healthy and young individuals. Our results show that olfactory identification performance was not affected by the acute systemic inflammation triggered by the injection of LPS. Moreover, odor identification performance following the LPS injection was not associated with levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α). Because experimental LPS-induced systemic inflammation does not affect olfactory identification performance, our findings suggest that chronic, rather than transient, systemic inflammation is a more likely mechanism to explore in order to explain the olfactory deficits observed in inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Tognetti
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georgia Sarolidou
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julie Lasselin
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Lekander
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stress Research Institute, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats J Olsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan N Lundström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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48
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Ye Y, Lu Z, Zhou W. Pheromone effects on the human hypothalamus in relation to sexual orientation and gender. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 182:293-306. [PMID: 34266600 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819973-2.00021-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pheromones are chemicals that serve communicational purposes within a species. In most terrestrial mammals, pheromones are detected by either the olfactory epithelium or the vomeronasal organ and processed by various downstream structures including the medial amygdala and the hypothalamus to regulate motivated behaviors and endocrine responses. The search for human pheromones began in the 1970s. Whereas bioactive ligands are yet to be identified, there has been accumulating evidence that human body odors exert a range of pheromone-like effects on the recipients, including triggering innate behavioral responses, modulating endocrine levels, signaling social information, and affecting mood and cognition. In parallel, results from recent brain imaging studies suggest that body odors evoke distinct neural responses from those observed with common nonsocial odors. Two endogenous steroids androsta-4,16,- dien-3-one and estra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraen-3-ol are considered by some as candidates for human sex pheromones. The two substances produce sexually dimorphic effects on human perception, mood, and physiological arousal. Moreover, they reportedly elicit different hypothalamic response patterns in manners contingent on the recipients' sex and sexual orientation. Neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the effects of human chemosignals are not yet clear and await future detailed analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhonghua Lu
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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49
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Dal Bò E, Gentili C, Cecchetto C. Human Chemosignals and Brain Activity: A Preliminary Meta-analysis of the Processing of Human Body Odors. Chem Senses 2020; 45:855-864. [PMID: 33179726 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjaa067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Across phyla, chemosignals are a widely used form of social communication and increasing evidence suggests that chemosensory communication is present also in humans. Chemosignals can transfer, via body odors, socially relevant information, such as specific information about identity or emotional states. However, findings on neural correlates of processing of body odors are divergent. The aims of this meta-analysis were to assess the brain areas involved in the perception of body odors (both neutral and emotional) and the specific activation patterns for the perception of neutral body odor (NBO) and emotional body odor (EBO). We conducted an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis on 16 experiments (13 studies) examining brain activity during body odors processing. We found that the contrast EBO versus NBO resulted in significant convergence in the right middle frontal gyrus and the left cerebellum, whereas the pooled meta-analysis combining all the studies of human odors showed significant convergence in the right inferior frontal gyrus. No significant cluster was found for NBOs. However, our findings also highlight methodological heterogeneity across the existing literature. Further neuroimaging studies are needed to clarify and support the existing findings on neural correlates of processing of body odors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Dal Bò
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, Padua, Italy.,Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, Padua, Italy
| | - Claudio Gentili
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, Padua, Italy.,Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, Padua, Italy
| | - Cinzia Cecchetto
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, Padua, Italy
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50
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Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP, Choleris E. Pathogens, odors, and disgust in rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:281-293. [PMID: 33031813 PMCID: PMC7536123 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
All animals are under the constant threat of attack by parasites. The mere presence of parasite threat can alter behavior before infection takes place. These effects involve pathogen disgust, an evolutionarily conserved affective/emotional system that functions to detect cues associated with parasites and infection and facilitate avoidance behaviors. Animals gauge the infection status of conspecific and the salience of the threat they represent on the basis of various sensory cues. Odors in particular are a major source of social information about conspecifics and the infection threat they present. Here we briefly consider the origins, expression, and regulation of the fundamental features of odor mediated pathogen disgust in rodents. We briefly review aspects of: (1) the expression of affective states and emotions and in particular, disgust, in rodents; (2) olfactory mediated recognition and avoidance of potentially infected conspecifics and the impact of pathogen disgust and its' fundamental features on behavior; (3) pathogen disgust associated trade-offs; (4) the neurobiological mechanisms, and in particular the roles of the nonapeptide, oxytocin, and steroidal hormones, in the expression of pathogen disgust and the regulation of avoidance behaviors and concomitant trade-offs. Understanding the roles of pathogen disgust in rodents can provide insights into the regulation and expression of responses to pathogens and infection in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kavaliers
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Klaus-Peter Ossenkopp
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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