Is the vomeronasal system really specialized for detecting pheromones?

• Published in: Trends in neurosciences (Regular ed.) Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Baxi, Kosha N., Dorries, Kathleen M., Eisthen, Heather L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2006; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chemoreceptor Cells - drug effects; Chemoreceptor Cells - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Models. Methods; Neurosciences; Odors; Olfactory system and olfaction. Gustatory system and gustation; Organ Specificity - physiology; Pheromones - administration & dosage; Smell; Smell - drug effects; Smell - physiology; Vertebrates - physiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Vomeronasal Organ - drug effects; Vomeronasal Organ - innervation; Vomeronasal Organ - physiology; Pheromone; Review; Interpretation; Olfactory system
• ISSN: 0166-2236; 1878-108X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2005.10.002

Many academics, clinicians and lay readers of science incorrectly assume that vomeronasal processing is equivalent to pheromone processing. We review the abundant data concerning the roles of both the olfactory and the vomeronasal systems in the processing of both pheromones and other odorants, demonstrating that this ‘equivalency hypothesis’ is untenable. This conclusion has important implications for the design and interpretation of experiments examining vomeronasal and olfactory system function. We describe some of the problems that arise from assuming that this equivalency holds. Two alternative hypotheses have been offered, but the available data do not enable us to accept or reject either one. Perhaps no single functional description can adequately characterize the role of the vomeronasal system.