| Abstract: | Recent experimental data on the influence of non-olfactory nasalchemoreception in physiology, sensation and behavior suggestthe following, (i) The vomeronasal system may be a detectorfor pre-programmed chemical signals, especially for pheromonesthat trigger hormonal and behavioral responses. As animals gainexperience with particular chemical signals, however, they maylearn to use other cues, detected via the main olfactory system,and become less reliant on vomeronasal sensory input, (ii) Thetrigeminal chemosensory system responds to irritating chemicalvapors in the nose, possibly via capsaicin-sensitive ‘pain’fibers. The system also responds to non-irritating concentrationsof some chemicals and, at all concentrations, may influenceolfactory sensation by increasing total sensation but decreasingapparent odor intensity. |
