The importance of the sense of smell for human, but also for animals, has been studied for many times and from various perspectives. It is known that odour perception is affected by physiological state (e.g. when we are hungry), but also that some odours are able to arouse emotion (e.g. when some scent reminds us of memories). Similarly, some experiments proved that odours can have impact on our psychological and maybe even physiological state. The latter hypothesis inspired the people from POTION, as they want to help patients suffering from psychiatric diseases and mental disorders.



The POTION project’s objective is to investigate meaningful social interaction, combining new knowledge about the chemical composition of human social chemo signals with a novel olfactory-based technology designed to drive social behaviour. The research is supported by the EU programme Future and Emerging Technologies (FET). As the coordinator, Dr. Enzo Pasquale Scillingo, Professor of Bioengineering at Enrico Piaggo research centre of the University of Pisa, told in the recently published FETFX interview:

We applied for FET because Potion is particularly ambitious and has a broad range of partners from different backgrounds and from eight European countries. The skills base covers social psychology, artificial intelligence, bioengineering, psychiatry and above all chemical analysis, as the project’s main objective is to identify the chemical molecules released by the body and associated with specific emotions.

The final outcome is to be expected by 2023, as the aim of POTION project is to propose a new human chemosignal-based diagnosis and treatment for social anxiety, phobias and depression. Now, the team of researchers is trying to investigate how the human body odours differ when a person feels various emotions.

As Dr. Enzo Pasquale Scilingo, further explained in the above mentioned interview for the FETFX:

The biggest challenge is to identify the molecules responsible for emotions. Of course, there are many emotions, but we are focusing only on two emotions - fear and happiness, which are at either end of the emotional scale, that is why we have chosen them. Within this study, we chemically analyse sweat samples taken from armpits with swabs. The goal is to identify the molecules and possibly synthesise them to have a device, a dispenser, a spray that releases these substances and can induce in people, who perceive these smells, the same emotions of fear and happiness.

A new possible support to therapeutic treatment for phobias, social anxiety or depression would make a great impact on society, as the numbers of these mental disorders increase continually.



Background information

FET-Open and FET Proactive are now part of the Enhanced European Innovation Council (EIC) Pilot (specifically the Pathfinder), the new home for deep-tech research and innovation in Horizon 2020, the EU funding programme for research and innovation.