The Smell of Death: Evidence that Putrescine Elicits Threat Management Mechanisms

The ability to detect and respond to chemosensory threat cues in the environment plays a vital role in survival across species. However, little is known about which chemical compounds can act as olfactory threat signals in humans. We hypothesized that brief exposure to putrescine, a chemical compound produced by the breakdown of fatty acids in the decaying tissue of dead bodies, can function as a chemosensory warning signal, activating threat management responses (e.g., heightened alertness, fight-or-flight responses). 

This hypothesis was tested by gaging people’s responses to conscious and non-conscious exposure to putrescine. In Experiment 1, putrescine increased vigilance, as measured by a reaction time task. In Experiments 2 and 3, brief exposure to putrescine (vs. ammonia and a scentless control condition) prompted participants to walk away faster from the exposure site. Experiment 3 also showed that putrescine elicited implicit cognitions related to escape and threat. Experiment 4 found that exposure to putrescine, presented here below the threshold of conscious awareness, increased hostility toward an out-group member. 

Together, the results are the first to indicate that humans can process putrescine as a warning signal that mobilizes protective responses to deal with relevant threats. The implications of these results are briefly discussed.

Below:  The number of seconds it took participants to walk 80 m after exposure to the scent prime (Experiment 2). Asterisks denote that two groups differ at **p < 0.005.

Read more at: http://ht.ly/Ssj0O 

By: Arnaud Wisman1,* and Ilan Shrira2
1School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

2Department of Behavioral Sciences, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR, USA

1School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

Examination of the Suicide Characteristics Based on the Scene Investigation in Capital Budapest (2009-2011)

Medicolegal evaluation of postmortem findings at the death scene represents an important part of forensic medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of suicide events. Data collection was performed from the police scene investigation reports in capital Budapest between 2009 and 2011. 

In this study, epidemiological parameters such as age, gender, time and place of death, postmortem changes, suicidal method, seasonal and daily distribution, natural diseases, earlier psychiatric treatment, socioeconomic risks, supposed cause of death, final notes, earlier suicide attempts, and suicide ideations were analyzed. 

There were 892 suicide cases (619 males, 273 females) detected in the investigated period. Hanging, overdose of prescription medications, jumping, use of firearms, drowning, and electrotrauma showed statistical differences among genders (p < 0.05). The most common methods of suicide among men and women were hanging (57.4%) and overdose of prescription medications (33%), respectively. Death scene characteristics represent the important factors for forensic medicine.

Via: http://ht.ly/S0j29

By: Kristóf I1, Vörös K2, Marcsa B2, Váradi-T A2, Kosztya S1, Törő K3.

• 1Hungarian Institute of Forensic Sciences, 1087, Hungary, Budapest, Mosonyi u. 9.
• 2Semmelweis University, 1094, Hungary, Budapest, Tüzoltó u. 37-47.
• 3Department of Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, 93 Ulloi Budapest, Budapest, 1091, Hungary.