The smell of death can trigger fight or flight in humans

New research from a team led by a psychologist at the University suggests humans, like other species, can perceive certain scents as threatening.

Dr Arnaud Wisman, of the School of Psychology, found that putrescine, the chemical produced by decaying tissue of dead bodies, can produce a fight-or-flight response in humans.

In four different experiments, people were exposed consciously and non-consciously to putrescine.

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