chemical communication

the use of odorants and other substances (see external chemical messenger) to transmit information between individuals. Many nonhuman animals have specialized scent glands for scent production and specialized behavior for depositing scents. Chemical signals communicate the identity of species, subspecies, and individuals; reproductive status; dominance status; fear; and territorial boundaries. An advantage of chemical communication is that signals can remain long after the communicator has left.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

May 10th 2024

cerebral death

see brain death.