Enhanced neural processing of chemosensory happiness
Fri-P2-063
Presented by: Olga Rashidi
Previous research has shown enhanced neural processing of chemosensory anxiety, stress, and aggression signals. The current study is the first that examines event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to chemosensory happiness signals.
Axillary sweat was collected via cotton pads from 25 women while they were waiting for the arrival of loved ones (friends or lovers) from whom they had been separated for a while (happiness condition), and during light ergometer training with adjusted heart rate (sport control condition). These donor women reported being happier during the happiness condition compared to the sport control condition (p < .001). Sweat samples per condition and additionally sweatless cotton were pooled, and presented to 26 men and 27 women (0.5 s, ISI: 18.5-22.5 s) via a constant-flow olfactometer (100 ml/s). EEG was recorded (61 electrodes), and the N1, P2, and P3 components of the chemosensory ERP were detected at fronto-central (Fz), centro-central (Cz), and parieto-central (Pz) electrode positions. The N1-P2 and N1-P3 interpeak amplitudes in response to happiness related sweat in reference to cotton (happiness – cotton) and sport control sweat in reference to cotton (sport – cotton) were analyzed. N1-P3 interpeak amplitudes were larger in response to chemosensory happiness compared to emotionally neutral information (sport control sweat, p = .033, ηp2= 0.086) across men and women. Happiness and sport sweat did not differ in intensity (p = .171) or pleasantness (p = .535).
The enlarged N1-P3 amplitudes in response to chemosensory happiness indicate evaluative importance of positive affect for men and women. These results suggest that happiness related sweat contains important social information sufficient to release an enhanced ERP response. Chemosensory transmission of positive affect seems to function as successful as the transmission of negative affect.
Axillary sweat was collected via cotton pads from 25 women while they were waiting for the arrival of loved ones (friends or lovers) from whom they had been separated for a while (happiness condition), and during light ergometer training with adjusted heart rate (sport control condition). These donor women reported being happier during the happiness condition compared to the sport control condition (p < .001). Sweat samples per condition and additionally sweatless cotton were pooled, and presented to 26 men and 27 women (0.5 s, ISI: 18.5-22.5 s) via a constant-flow olfactometer (100 ml/s). EEG was recorded (61 electrodes), and the N1, P2, and P3 components of the chemosensory ERP were detected at fronto-central (Fz), centro-central (Cz), and parieto-central (Pz) electrode positions. The N1-P2 and N1-P3 interpeak amplitudes in response to happiness related sweat in reference to cotton (happiness – cotton) and sport control sweat in reference to cotton (sport – cotton) were analyzed. N1-P3 interpeak amplitudes were larger in response to chemosensory happiness compared to emotionally neutral information (sport control sweat, p = .033, ηp2= 0.086) across men and women. Happiness and sport sweat did not differ in intensity (p = .171) or pleasantness (p = .535).
The enlarged N1-P3 amplitudes in response to chemosensory happiness indicate evaluative importance of positive affect for men and women. These results suggest that happiness related sweat contains important social information sufficient to release an enhanced ERP response. Chemosensory transmission of positive affect seems to function as successful as the transmission of negative affect.