Happiness Sweat May Transfer Positive Emotions to Other People

Humans may be able to communicate positive emotions like happiness through just the smell of their sweat. Scientists have discovered that when we are happy, we produce chemical compounds that are detectable by others who smell our sweat.

"Our study shows that being exposed to sweat produced under happiness induces a simulacrum of happiness in receivers, and induces a contagion of the emotional state," said Gun Semin, senior researcher of the new study, in a news release. "This suggests that somebody who is happy will infuse others in their vicinity with happiness. In a way, happiness sweat is somewhat like smiling-it is infectious."

In order to determine whether emotional chemosignaling extends to positive emotions, the researchers examined whether sweat taken from people in a happy state would influence the behavior, perception and emotional state of people exposed to the sweat. They recruited 12 Caucasian males to provide the sweat samples for the study. The participants didn't smoke, take any medications or have any diagnosed psychological disorders. They were banned from drinking alcohol, engaging in sexual activity, or eating smelly food during the study.

The sweat donors watched a video to induce a particular emotional state, and then gave the researchers sweat pads. Then, the scientists recruited 36 Caucasian females and had them smell sweat samples. The researchers then collected facial expression data.

In the end, the scientists found that the sweat samples did impact the women involved in the study. This suggests "behavioral synchronization" between the sweat donor and the sweat smeller.

"This is another step in our general model on the communicative function of human sweat, and we are continuing to refine it to understand the neurological effects that human sweat has on recipients of these chemical compounds," said Semin.

The findings are published in the journal Psychological Science.

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