Sex Differences and Olfactory Function

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511543623.012

10 - Sex Differences and Olfactory Function

from Section II - Social Functioning: Role of Evolution, Genetics and Gender

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 August 2009

Kimberley P. Good and

Edited by

David Castle and

Foreword by

Warrick J. Brewer: Affiliation:
Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Melbourne
David Castle: Affiliation:
University of Melbourne
Christos Pantelis: Affiliation:
University of Melbourne

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Summary

Introduction

In the early 1980s, in conjunction with the National Geographic Magazine, Wysocki and Gilbert set out on an ambitious quest. About 10.5 million ‘scratch and sniff’ surveys were distributed with the magazine in the hope of collecting population-based data on olfactory function. Over 1.4 million completed surveys were returned (Wysocki & Gilbert, 1989). Although limited in its scope, the data served to highlight a number of interesting points. Among those reported was the observation that women outperformed men on all measured aspects of olfactory ability. Moreover, the findings suggested that sex differences in olfactory perception were not uniform across different odorants. Although sex differences in olfactory sensitivity have been anecdotally known for centuries, the data derived from this investigation provided further insight into some of the diverse aspects of olfactory functioning that are differentiated between the two sexes. This monumental study served to spur on subsequent olfactory research, particularly in the realm of sex differences.

This chapter reviews the literature on sex differences in olfactory ability and describes the current state of knowledge on this subject. Moreover, some methodological shortcomings in published reports are outlined. Finally, some hypotheses are offered in order to explain the male/female difference in olfactory function.

Males and females differ in their ability to process odorants

Olfactory findings

Sex differences in olfactory function have been observed on virtually all olfactory measures examined.

Keywords

functional imaging menstrual cycle olfactory function sex differences socially irrelevant stimuli socially relevant odours

Type: Chapter
Information: Olfaction and the Brain , pp. 183 - 202

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543623.012 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2006

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10 - Sex Differences and Olfactory Function

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