Sex attractants in primates.

The role of olfactory sexual attractants in the sex behavior of primates is discussed. These olfactory cues can prompt mounting, masturbation, and ejaculation, increase grooming behavior, and reduce aggressive behavior. In rhesus monkeys, the addition of phenylpropanoic and parahydroxyphenylpropanoic acids to a synthetic acid mixture has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of the synthetic pheromone. However, the response produced was often varied, which demonstrates the complexity of defining an olfactory sexual response in higher primates. A possible mechanism by which pheromones elicit sexual behavior is discussed.