Citation
Darcin: a male pheromone that stimulates female memory and sexual attraction to an individual male's odour
TL;DR
Male mouse urine contains darcin protein that attracts females
This research revealed that a single urinary protein (darcin) triggers both immediate attraction and long-term spatial memory formation in female mice, demonstrating that chemical signals can simultaneously influence behavior and cognition.
The dual function of darcin - attracting females while also causing them to remember the location - shows how chemical signals can create lasting effects beyond immediate behavioral responses.
Key Findings from Roberts et al. (2010)
- Male mouse urine contains darcin protein that attracts females
- Exposure to darcin triggers spatial memory formation in females
- Females remember locations where they encountered darcin
- Single protein serves dual function: attraction and memory