Human infants an particularly responsive to olfactory cues emanating from t
heir mother's nipple/areola region. Beginning within minutes after birth, m
aternal breast odors elicit preferential head orientation by neonates and h
elp guide them to the nipple. Such odors also influence babies' general mot
or activity and arousal, which may contribute further to successful nipple
localization and sucking. The role of maternal olfactory signals in the med
iation of early breast-feeding is functionally analogous to that of nipple-
search pheromone as described in nonhuman mammals. To some extent, the chem
ical profile of boast secretions overlaps with that of amniotic fluid. Ther
efore, early postnatal attraction to odors associated with the nipple/areol
a may reflect prenatal exposure and familiarization. Although newborns are
generally attracted to breast odors produced by lactating women, breast-fed
infants rapidly learn their mother's characteristic olfactory signature wh
ile sucking at her breasts and can subsequently recognize her by that uniqu
e scent alone. Early odor-based recognition may be an important factor in t
he development of the infant-mother bond. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al
l rights reserved.