2023-12-22 08:16:15
Tears impact aggression.
A recent study published in the scientific journal PLOS Biology by scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science has revealed that human tears contain molecules that reduce aggression in others. This surprising discovery contradicts popular beliefs about tears and their effects.
The study aimed to answer the longstanding question of why humans cry. Many theories, including Charles Darwin’s, have suggested that crying is an evolutionary mistake with no meaningful purpose. However, research in rodents has shown that mammalian tears contain chemicals that convey social messages and reduce aggressive behavior.
The study exposed a group of male subjects to women’s tears or a saline solution, which has no odor, to measure their behavioral and brain responses. After being exposed to tears, the participants displayed a significant decrease in aggressive behavior, revealing a human behavioral effect similar to that known in rodents.
The researchers also discovered that human tears activate olfactory receptors, even though they are odorless, affecting brain circuits related to aggression. This finding indicates that tears are a chemical defense mechanism against aggression and is shared by rodents, humans, and potentially other mammals as well.
This study sheds new light on the purpose of tears and their impact on human behavior. While the study focused on human subjects, it raises questions about the potential effects of chemical messages in animal tears, including dogs.
The results of this study challenge the traditional view of tears as solely emotional responses, suggesting that they play a much larger role in social communication and behavior regulation. This groundbreaking research could have significant implications for understanding human and animal behavior in the future.
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