Abstracts - Association for Chemoreception Sciences

a universal odor descriptor map. However, this issue has long
been elusive due to the high dimensionality of olfactory
perception space. A recent work (Zarzo & Stanton 2009, Atten
Percept Psychophys 71, 225-247) reports the multivariate
statistical analysis of a numeric odor profile database containing
309 compounds. The loading plot corresponding to the first and
second principal components was strikingly similar to the odor
effects diagram proposed by P. Jellinek in the 1950s as well as to
Edwards’ Fragrance Wheel, which classifies 6500 commercial
perfumes into 14 categories. A similar odor map was also obtained
from the analysis of a second database, which contains the
semantic description of 119 perfume materials. The dominant
dimension discriminates fresh vs. warm scents, which might be
reminiscent of low versus high temperature. I speculate that this
dimension might discriminate odors typical from winter vs.
summer. Consistent with this hypothesis, the second dimension
basically discriminates floral vs. non-floral scents. The former are
associated with spring, and odors most dissimilar to floral are
typical from autumn. Thus, the resulting map of scents might
reflect the role of olfaction in chronobiological annual rhythms.
In conclusion, the findings suggest that there is certain ‘universal’
perceptual space of fragrances, and provide clues for better
understanding the psychological aspects involved in the
perception of fragrances which is of relevant industrial interest.
Acknowledgements: Supported in part by a Fulbright grant
sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.
#P37 POSTER SESSION I: TASTE IMAGING &
PSYCHOPHYSICS; CENTRAL TASTE;
MULTIPLE MODALITIES; CENTRAL &
PERIPHERAL OLFACTION
Androstenone Suppresses Testosterone Response to
Sex Female Pheromones in Mice
Vera V. Voznessenskaya, Maria A. Klyuchnikova
A.N.Severtzov Institute of Ecology & Evolution RAS Moscow,
Russia
In mice reproductive and aggressive behavior is guided by odors
and investigatory behavior provides the behavioral mechanism for
evaluating sex, physiological status and social rank of another
individual. Failure to detect certain biological odors may seriously
disrupt behavioral reactions. We studied the role of androstenone
(AND) in regulation social behavior in mice contrasting in
sensitivity to AND and level of intermale aggression.
CBA/J(CBA) mice are more than 2000-fold sensitive to AND
than NZB/B1NJ(NZB) mice. NZB mice showed abnormal level
of intermale aggression. Atypical for mice in general, NZB males
often attacked females. This may imply that chemosensory cues
and social behavior are de-linked in NZB males. In standard odor
preference test CBA males showed strong preference for receptive
female odor relative to male odor (p