OLFACTORY AWARENESS

Awareness is defined here as a state in which complex brain analysis i s used to process sensory stimuli or constructs based on memory. Aware ness is described using five headings: unaware, perceptual awareness, cognitive awareness, assessment awareness and executive awareness. Exa mples are given and awareness in man and other animals compared. The m echanisms of olfactory awareness are briefly reviewed and then the rel evant effects of primer pheromones, releaser pheromones, identity semi ochemicals, pheromones modifying aggression and fear pheromones are de scribed. It is concluded that olfaction plays a major role in animal a wareness and that this should not be overlooked when attempting to imp rove welfare. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.