How Smell, Taste & Pheromone-Like Chemicals Control You | Episode 25
Main Takeaways
Our nervous system is designed to move us towards or away from things, and our sense of smell, taste, and ability to sense chemical signals from others have a profound influence on who we spend time with.
Innate odor responses signal a call to action and elicit alertness in the brain. We can associate certain smells with danger (like smoke or fire) or pleasure (like fresh baked cookies).
Smell is closely tied to memory and can trigger powerful emotional responses.
You can train yourself to have a better sense of smell by sniffing deeply through your nose 10-15 times, then smelling something with a strong scent (such as an orange or mint).
Olfactory dysfunction is common in traumatic brain injuries and can be a sign of progress in recovery.
There may be a 6th taste receptor to detect fat in addition to the 5 traditional taste receptors we know (sweet, sour, bitter, umami/savory, salty).
The specifics of human pheromone chemicals are unknown, but it is clear that some form of chemical signaling between humans exists.
Deep breathing can improve our sense of smell and taste by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain.
Our sense of smell can also impact our cognition, learning, and focus.
Premium members of Podcast Notes get access to curated collections of notes on the most important aspects of life, business, and health, as well as early exclusive notes on podcasts, ad-free content, and other benefits.
