Chemical communication

Chemical communication is involved in social interactions in various contexts such as mate choice, mother-infant relationship and other kin relations. Each individual has specific odour signature originating from interaction between secretion of sebaceous, apocrine and eccrine glands and metabolic activity of skin microflora. Odour signature is influenced by ones genetic makeup and environmental factors such as diet, diseases or reproductive status. Our group studies how environmental (diet), contextual (affective states), genetic make-up (MHC) and cultural practices (perfumes) affect human body odour and its perception using perspectives of sexual selection, signalling theory and dual inheritance theory.

Theoretical Bachelor Thesis:

1. Environmental factors influencing human body odour – Jitka Fialová
2. The role of sense of smell when choosing a partner – Jitka Fialová

Dissertation:

1. The role of sense of smell when choosing a partner – Jitka Fialová
2. The role of sense of smell when establishing a relationship between mother and child – Jitka Fialová
3. Dietetic factors affecting human body odour – Jitka Fialová
4. Influence of affective states on body odour – Jitka Fialová
5. Perfume selection and its interaction with body odour – Jitka Fialová