http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2727 Tsu Dho Nimh Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:00:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2727 Some experiments in France used anise flavor in pregnant women - half were exposed to it during pregnancy and half weren't. The prenatally exposed babies didn't balk at their first taste of it, the unexposed ones did. Some experiments in France used anise flavor in pregnant women – half were exposed to it during pregnancy and half weren’t.
The prenatally exposed babies didn’t balk at their first taste of it, the unexposed ones did.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2726 Stagyar zil Doggo Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:36:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2726 Isn't it more likely that these rats are already chronic alcoholics? That their increased preference is for the <b>high</b> given by alcohol and they use smell and taste merely as a marker for the high? As jay said, preference for alcohol does not imply a preference for its taste/smell. Same for many other common substances of abuse. (Stinkbud anyone?) One way to control for this would be to try out an identically smelling and/or tasting chemical (does one exist?), which does not give a high and to see if the rats in question eventually lose their preference for it. Did the preference for quinine hydrochloride persist despite not getting a high from it (or anything else bitter) after a period long enough for them to unlearn the association of bitter taste with intoxication? Isn’t it more likely that these rats are already chronic alcoholics? That their increased preference is for the high given by alcohol and they use smell and taste merely as a marker for the high? As jay said, preference for alcohol does not imply a preference for its taste/smell. Same for many other common substances of abuse. (Stinkbud anyone?)
One way to control for this would be to try out an identically smelling and/or tasting chemical (does one exist?), which does not give a high and to see if the rats in question eventually lose their preference for it. Did the preference for quinine hydrochloride persist despite not getting a high from it (or anything else bitter) after a period long enough for them to unlearn the association of bitter taste with intoxication?

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2725 jemand Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:44:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2725 those are huge concentrations. and, at those levels wouldn't very strong physical effects be noticed? I believe in Europe pregnant women are not discouraged from drinking half a glass or a glass of wine a week... would any effects at all result from those concentrations? those are huge concentrations. and, at those levels wouldn’t very strong physical effects be noticed? I believe in Europe pregnant women are not discouraged from drinking half a glass or a glass of wine a week… would any effects at all result from those concentrations?

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2724 Lilian Nattel Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:10:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2724 This could also explain the food preferences with internationally adopted babies who after adoption have a definite taste for the kinds of foods that come from their place of origin even though as babies (prior to adoption) they only ever had formula. This could also explain the food preferences with internationally adopted babies who after adoption have a definite taste for the kinds of foods that come from their place of origin even though as babies (prior to adoption) they only ever had formula.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2723 Dennis Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:42:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2723 Science, is there nothing it can't blame on mothers? Science, is there nothing it can’t blame on mothers?

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2722 jay Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:18:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2722 Probably part of evolution, many foods pre-exposed the young, especially humans where different cultures have widely differing diets. Perhaps this is a matter of much ado about nothing, many alcholics dislike the taste of alcohol (and go to great lengths to hide it in their preferred drinks) and many people who like the taste do not become alcoholic. Probably part of evolution, many foods pre-exposed the young, especially humans where different cultures have widely differing diets.
Perhaps this is a matter of much ado about nothing, many alcholics dislike the taste of alcohol (and go to great lengths to hide it in their preferred drinks) and many people who like the taste do not become alcoholic.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2721 Noah Gray Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:48:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/09/alcohol-tastes-and-smells-better-to-those-who-get-their-first-sips-in-the-womb/#comment-2721 I think the suggestion of an epigenetic component is an <a href="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120747956/abstract" rel="nofollow"><i>excellent</i> idea</a>... I think the suggestion of an epigenetic component is an excellent idea…

]]>