Abstract
The Biodor-IN project aims to better understand the function of human biological odors in social interactions, particularly in attractiveness and partner choice. The role of odors produced by the human body in attractiveness has been the object of many studies and there is increasing evidence that communication through biological odors exists in humans. However, the mechanisms of this communication are far from being elucidated. In this project, a first aim will be to identify odorants produced by the human body that may be involved in male-female attractiveness, thanks on the one hand to the sampling of a panel of donors that vary in age, sex and hormonal status, and on the other hand to the analysis of verbal, motor, central and peripheral responses of receivers as well as analysis of the chemical profiles of the body odors. A second aim will be to use odors identified as relevant to attractiveness in protocols investigating their effects on social interactions using a naturalistic approach (participants’ immersion in a virtual environment at the Neuro-immersion platform of the CRNL). In particular, the effect of odors on interpersonal distance as well as the influence of factors such as context and gender stereotypes will be investigated. Overall, this interdisciplinary project will provide new insights in a poorly understood field of human sensoriality.