Despite years of research and advances in technology, many aspects of the human body remain a mystery to doctors and scientists. Given the complexity of our bodies, this comes as no surprise.
Much like the so-called “sixth sense” some people claim to have, which allows them to predict events before they happen, a recent study suggests that humans can also sense when death is approaching. Researchers have discovered that as a person nears death, the body begins to break down, releasing a foul and toxic odor known as putrescine. This smell, a byproduct of decomposition, is apparently detected by humans on a subconscious level. When this odor is released, it triggers an immediate response.
Arnaud Wisman, from the University of Kent’s School of Psychology in Canterbury, UK, and Ilan Shira from the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR, conducted studies showing that, similar to animals, humans can detect certain scents and react accordingly. This ability is likely tied to our survival instincts, which are common across species.
When exposed to the odor of putrescine, humans show both conscious and subconscious reactions. Experiments have demonstrated that people instinctively move away from the scent, much like animals do when they sense danger, either fleeing or becoming defensive.
Wisman and Shira explain, “We don’t always understand why we are drawn to (or repelled by) someone’s scent, and we are often unaware of how odors influence our emotions, preferences, and attitudes.”
Although some researchers find it hard to conceptualize a scent as being frightening, they note that scents play a role in increasing vigilance in humans. One example is sex pheromones, which are chemicals produced by males or females that elicit behavioral responses from the opposite sex, driving them toward mating behavior.
“Putrescine signals a different kind of message than sex pheromones,” the researchers explain. “While sexual pheromones prompt attraction, people’s responses to putrescine, such as avoidance or hostility, are almost the opposite.”
Interestingly, humans are not consciously aware of the putrescine odor, nor do they associate it directly with death or fear. However, the body reacts to it instinctively, triggering a protective response.
