It
is not uncommon to hear family members talk about a loved one who has passed
away. One interesting and surprising anecdote often heard is a person’s
behavior prior to dying like; saying goodbye, getting
closure on troubled relationships, and even giving away prized possessions. It
seems they may know something before anyone else does.
Some
may argue this is purely coincidence while others are confident people know
when death is near. It is only natural to try to understand the death of
someone we love or make sense of what happens in those final moments.
Scientists know when someone dies, the body immediately begins to break down.
Putrescine,
for example, is a foul and toxic scent; the result of decomposition.
Researchers have come to realize humans subconsciously recognize this putrefying
odor. Not only that, the scent, when released, causes an immediate response.
ANIMALS HAVE THE
ABILITY TO SMELL THE SCENT OF OTHERS, PROMPTING THEM TO REACT ACCORDINGLY.
This
is the equivalent to sensing danger whether from a predator or stronger and
bigger animal from their pack.
A STUDY CONDUCTED
BY ARNAUD WISMAN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT’S SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN
CANTERBURY, UK AND ILAN SHIRA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES IN
ARKANSAS’ TECH UNIVERSITY IN RUSSELLVILLE, AK HAVE DISCOVERED ANIMALS AND
HUMANS MIGHT NOT BE SO DIFFERENT AFTER ALL.
The
ability to detect chemical scents is part of survival across the species. The
threat of death is revealed through smell to humans.
PUTRESCINE IS A
CHEMICAL COMPOUND RELEASED WHEN A BODY DECAYS.
It
also has a secondary function as a warning signal. People have both a conscious
and subconscious reaction when they are exposed to this scent.
THERE WERE FOUR
DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED USING PUTRESCINE, AMMONIA, AND WATER TO STUDY
PEOPLE’S REACTION.
One
of the experiments included putrescine exposed at a site, people’s immediate
response was to move away from the area.
THIS IS THE SAME
RESPONSE AROUND FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT REACTION.
When
animals feel they are in danger there are only two responses; fight off the
threat or run away from it. The study revealed people react similarly.
THERE ARE OTHER
SCENTS HUMANS RESPOND TO AS WELL LIKE SWEAT.
Separate
studies have shown that sweat taken from people in fearful situations and
exposed for others to smell generated an automatic and startled reflex.
“WE DO NOT KNOW
WHY WE LIKE (OR DISLIKE) SOMEONE’S SMELL, AND WE’RE USUALLY NOT AWARE OF HOW
SCENT INFLUENCES OUR EMOTIONS, PREFERENCES, AND ATTITUDES,” EXPLAIN WISMAN AND
SHIRA.
“It
is hard to think of a scent as frightening,” comment the two leading
researchers. These scents make people more aware and vigilant of their
surroundings.
HUMANS’ NATURAL
REACTION TO DANGER IS NOT TO FACE IT AND FIGHT.
People
tend to avoid any type of confrontation, whether its verbal or physical. For
the most part, folks choose to distance themselves until fight is the only
option left.
THE RESPONSES MAY
BE DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER BUT PUTRESCINE AND SEX PHEROMONE ARE BASED ON
SCENT.
Sex
pheromones are chemicals released by the body to attract a mate while
putrescine works as a warning signal. “Putrescine signals a different type of
message than pheromones, but people’s responses to putrescine (avoidance and
hostility) do seem indeed to be the opposite of responses to many sexual pheromones,”
explain the research duo.
DURING THE STUDY, PEOPLE WERE NOT AWARE THEY HAD A
NEGATIVE REACTION TO THE SCENT.
“People
are not familiar with putrsescine and do not consciously associate it with
death or fear,” admits
Wisman and Shira.
Originally
written by Sheyla and published on Lifebuzz via simplecapacity