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Perception of individual variation in body odour in human adults
Fialová, Jitka ; Havlíček, Jan (advisor) ; Schaal, Benoist (referee) ; Stopka, Pavel (referee)
The thesis consists of two parts. The first part introduces the topic of human chemical communication and reviews current evidence on individual variation in human body odour and its perception. This part is framed by sexual selection theory. In the first chapter, the concept of the theory of communication is introduced followed by a discussion on the specifics of chemical communication. Next, the formation of individually specific body odour signatures with reference to skin glands, their volatile products and the subsequent metabolization by skin microflora is described. The next chapters are dedicated to selected interindividual body odour cues such as sex and kin recognition, genetic compatibility in genes of Major Histocompatibility Complex, and health and reproductive status in a mate choice context. Furthermore, interactions between perfumes and body odours are discussed. Finally, methods of body odour sampling are introduced and a rationale behind presenting individual samples or body odour blends is discussed. The second part is comprised of six scientific papers, specifically three reviews and three empirical studies. Review papers summarize factors affecting human body odour quality with emphasis on diet and affective states. The first text shows that human body odours contain cues to...
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Association between olfactory and cognitive abilities in elderly individuals
Babuská, Anna ; Havlíček, Jan (advisor) ; Vodička, Jan (referee)
During the process of aging, the human mental and physical abilities decline. Olfactory abilities are not an exception. A significant decrease of olfactory capabilities in patients with Parkinson's disease was firstly observed a few decades ago. After the discovery of the relationship between olfactory abilities and cognitive abilities in patients with neurodegenerative disease, the same relationship was also found in healthy aging people. It seems that the factors causing the decline of cognition foremost affect the olfactory functions. A number of studies suggests, that this could lead to a possibility of prediction of the future cognitive decline through the assessment of olfactory decline. Our research followed the results of these studies as a part of the NANOK study. Testing of the smell abilities was done in 2014 and 2015. Participants were screened with the Sniffin 'Sticks. Cognitive functions were tested with an extensive battery of cognitive tests. The processiong of data was divided into two parts. In the first part we tested the olfactory identification and discrimination relationship with the general cognitive abilities and the level of the executive functions. In the second part we tested the possibility of prediction of cognitive functions using the smell identification and discrimination...
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Evolution of Olfaction in Mammals with Focus on Superorder Laurasiatheria
Vondráčková, Kamila ; Hulva, Pavel (advisor) ; Hanus, Robert (referee)
The evolution history of mammals is connected with the dominance of smell and olfactory communication, which are important sense and communication channels also in recent forms. Two systems are involved in detecting and processing the molecules of scent, the main and the accessory olfactory system. These systems distinguish different types of scents, odorants and pheromones, which are also detected by different types of receptors. Significant factors for comparison of the ability of smell between mammals are both the amount of olfactory genes and the size and complexity of olfactory structures. The main emphasis in this thesis is put on the sensory part of the olfactory system and hence there is effort to support characterization of particular taxa by genomic studies. The ability of smell, respectively amount and variation of olfactory gene repertoires has been formed during the evolution on different circumstances and the ecological adaptation played a great role. The amount and diversity of olfactory receptors vary a lot in mammals and range through anosmatic Cetaceans and microsmatic bats to macrosmatic carnivores. Present thesis is focused to the superorder Laurasiatheria because of its extensive ecological differentiation and diversification of smell abilities (from anosmatic to macrosmatic...
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Association between human body odour and health status
Schwambergová, Dagmar ; Havlíček, Jan (advisor) ; Vinkler, Michal (referee)
The subject of this thesis is to evaluate a link between changes in body odor and health status in humans. The main aim was to create a theoretical overview of the available studies concerning humans, which are compared with studies conducted on mammals. Alteration of body odor due to the ongoing disease may negatively influence not only the odor attractiveness of a potential partner, but also may cause changes in behavioral response to a chemical stimulus for other members of the species. One may assume formation of perceptual adaptations exhibiting sensitivity to markers of health status in both sexes. Recognition of ill individuals may be crucial during social interactions, to prevent transmission of pathogens, but in mate choice the health status may also serve as an important indicator of resistance to infection, which can affect the viability of the offsprings. The main contribution of this thesis is to summarize the knowledge and insights into the area related to changes in body odor, depending on the health status. Keywords body odor, health, sexual selection, attractiveness, olfactory perception
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The Use of Scent in Marketing Communication
Polák, Jan ; Halada, Jan (advisor) ; Klabíková Rábová, Tereza (referee)
This bachelor thesis study sense of smell as mean to enhance marketing communication. In theoretical part of the thesis I focused on function of smell on biological level. I paid extraordinary attention to the brain and its function. I explained how the brain works and especially how the scents are being perceived. It is shown how important i tis to understand this topic well. The smell signals go directly to the deepest and oldest parts of our brain called the limbic system. This is where our emotions and memory are being processed. This tight connection between the smell, emotions and memory in some of the most important pieces of information that allows us to use the scent perception in marketing praxis. In the theoretical part of the thesis I mention also psychological effects of the smell such as the Proust phenomenon. This rather poetic term describes an unexpected feeling or long forgotten memory coming on our minds after exposure to certain smells that we have connected with our past experience. The practical part of the thesis is rather descriptive. I cited number of studies from scientific magazines which deal with effects of scents on human minds, perception and emotions, especially connected with practical use in marketing field. I added also some examples of the real companies which already use...
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The role of olfactory perception in newborns
Staňková, Jana ; Třebická Fialová, Jitka (advisor) ; Stopková, Romana (referee)
One of the most important relationships in our lives is the bond between mother and child. A considerable amount of studies have shown that olfaction plays an important role in establishing this bond. As previous research already demonstrated, mothers who spend more time with their children and form a closer relationship with them are better at recognizing their child's body odor. Similarly, newborns are relatively successful at recognizing the smell of their mother, the smell of their mother's breast and the scent of their own amniotic fluid. These scents, compared to others, are not only more preferred by newborns but also appear soothing for them. Moreover, the smell of mother's breast plays a crucial role in starting of breastfeeding. The environment in utero is rather deprived of auditory and visual stimuli and thus olfactory cues play an important role in this ontogeny phase. It has been shown that prenatal exposure to odorants through amniotic fluid affects subsequent reactions of children. The effect is conveyed through food that the mother ingests; these odors are then received more positively than the odors that children were not previously exposed to. This early acquaintance with smells and flavors typical for a specific culture might, to some extent, shape the later eating habits of...
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Choice of perfumes and their interaction with body odour
Gwužďová, Markéta ; Havlíček, Jan (advisor) ; Martinec Nováková, Lenka (referee)
The traditional assumption that perfumes are used only for masking of the body odour was doubted by the results of recent researches. In spite of the fact that the biological role of human body odour is very important, it is likely that perfumes are not in conflict with the body odour but there is mutual cooperation. Individuals could choose the scent which goes with their body odour instead of hiding it. In the theoretical part of this thesis I describe a dual inheritance theory, which is a basic concept for our research. We have been concerned with the interaction between biological effects of body odour and social effects of perfumes. Moreover, we have worked on the assumption that the body odour of relatives is similar. We have tested if people are better in their choice of the appropriate perfume for their relatives than for anyone else, in this case partners. Which perfume fits into which body odour was assessed by the independent evaluators of opposite sex because one of the main objectives of chemical signalling is to attract a potential partner. Surprisingly, the results of our research have shown that in the case of couples, the samples of the body odour and perfumes chosen by female partners were slightly better evaluated than the perfumes chosen by men themselves. Moreover, there were...
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Nose in the Linguistic Picture o the World in Czech
Černá, Eliška ; Vaňková, Irena (advisor) ; Rejzek, Jiří (referee)
The thesis tries to grasp the meaning of lexeme nos "the nose" in cognitively-linguistic perspective, namely in particular through colocation and idioms, which contains the lexeme nos. The goal of this thesis is to define so-called semantic profiles of concept NOSE and to formulate cognitively cultural definition of nose consequential from its location in the Czech linguistic picture of the world. For this purpose nose first will be subjected to analysis from two different perspectives - from medical perspective, which represent the scientific view on the world, and from the perspective of a common user of the language, which represent so- called naive picture of the world. Data relating to the lexeme nos will be excerpted from Czech monolingual, synonymous, etymological and phraseological dictionaries, the semic analysis will be done and the lexeme nos will be included to systemic relationships in Czech vocabulary. Nose also will be introduced in a ligth of an additional perspectives of an alternative medicine and a pseudoscientific disciplines: the phrenology and the physiognomy. Their knowledges play some role in a formation of a naive picture of a nose. The questionnaire research is too a part of the thesis. The questionnaire research search for which association a common user of the Czech language have...
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Opportunities for Implementing Multisensory In-store Marketing, Demostrated by Apple In-store Communication
Lišková, Iva ; Jesenský, Daniel (advisor) ; Koudelková, Petra (referee)
The Bachelor's thesis entitled "Opportunities for Implementing Multisensory In-store Marketing, Demonstrated by Apple In-store Communication" addresses the marketing possibilities for including all of our senses in a retail store experience. It illustrates those marketing possibilities with current examples of Apple in-store communication. The first theoretical part defines in-store marketing communication, its terminology, provides information about multi sensory marketing and subsequently analyzes each of our senses with the potential for their in-store implementation. In the second part of the theses, theoretical knowledge is used from the first part to describe in-store marketing communication at branded Apple stores, as well as at premium resellers that are found in the Czech Republic, such as iStyle, iSetos, and iWorld. Information about branded Apple stores is gained from literature and on-line sources. Information about premium resellers comes from my own observation and interviews with their employees. The main focus is on the description of the current situation, comparisons and finding new opportunities to implement our senses at in-store marketing communication at Apple stores and their premium resellers.
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Evolution of olfactory receptors
Klempt, Petr ; Stopka, Pavel (advisor) ; Vinkler, Michal (referee)
This bachelor thesis deals with the largest gene family of mammals which encode olfactory receptors. Olfactory receptors fall in rhodopsin-like GPCRs subfamily, approximately 600 - 800 millions of years old. At least from this time, olfactory receptors play, as a part of one of the oldest senses (smell), fundamental role in detection of chemical cues from water or air. This work summarizes large repertoire of olfactory receptors and its changes during the evolution of important animal taxons with emphasis on number and fraction of functional and nonfunctional olfactory receptor genes. Those values are part of criteria used for olfactory ability of animals. Olfactory receptors are typically placed on surface of sensory neuron placed in olfactory epithelium, where they bind various odorants and triggers signal cascade which leads to neuron's membrane depolarization. Therefore, about one half of this work summarizes knowledge of olfactory receptor's molecular biology like their structure, main parts of signal cascade (Gαolf, ACIII, CNG channel, Ca2+ dependent Cl- channel) just as parts needed for steady-state establishment. Expression of olfactory receptors detected in amount of non-olfactory tissues (mussels, sperm, brain etc.), indicate possibly important biomedical roles of this receptors.
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