Dr. Denise Chen

I am interested in the interplay between psycho-social and biological factors in human behavior. Olfaction offers a unique perspective to study it. Much progress has been made in recent years in understanding the molecular underpinnings of olfactory functioning. Nevertheless, olfactory perception has as much a psycho-social as it does a biological basis. An area of research that I am actively pursuing is to what extend olfaction in humans serves as a channel of social communication. Communication through chemical signals such as olfaction has long been established in many animals, from single cell organisms, to insects, fish, and mammals. Increasing evidence over the past three decades suggests that this also applies to humans. With my collaborators, I have shown that sweat collected from different developmental stages and genders differentially influenced the mood of those exposed to them, and this effect remained independent of the perceived pleasant/unpleasant quality of the sweat itself. In another study, I showed that when given a choice, people can identify emotions based on sweat collected from different emotional states. My research shows that the capacity to detect odor-based social emotional signals is unique; Not everyone can do it. My current research involves further documenting such capacity, examining the effect of it on behavior, and investigating the individual differences underlying such capacity. I use a combination of techniques and approaches, including social psychology, physiological recordings, and sensory psychophysics.

Selected Publications:

Chen, D. & Haviland-Jones, J. (2000). Human olfactory communication of emotion. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 91, 771-781.

Chen, D. & Haviland-Jones, J. (1999). Rapid mood change and human odors. Physiology & Behavior, 68 (1-2), 241-250.

Selected Press Releases:

April 22, 1999, Testing the smells of joy and fear, The New York Times
May 1, 1999, The scent of fear, The New Scientist
July 3, 1999, Heavenly scent, The New Scientist

Research Opportunities:

Research Assistantship Opportunities:
Participating in research is the best way to learn about psychology. I am looking for motivated and conscientious students to assist in conducting research in my Lab. Qualified students can participate in either of the following ways:
1) Participate for research credits: Sign up for either PSYC 485 Supervised Research, or PSYC 488 Supervised Reading.
2) Participate as a volunteer: May changed to a paid position after the first semester.
If interested, please contact me (xdchen@rice.edu), and email a copy of your resume.

Graduate Training Opportunities:
I am looking for outstanding students with a background in neuroscience, psychology, or sensory research who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. program in human olfaction. Rice University has an excellent cognitive psychology and neuroscience program. Located in close proximity to the Texas Medical Center, which consists of 42 medical institutions, the university provides an ideal setting for interdisciplinary research. For details, contact Dr. Denise Chen, Psychology Department MS-25, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, Tel.: (713) 348-4789, Email: xdchen@rice.edu

Event Calendar:

· Rice Psychology Seminar Series on Mind, Body, and Behavior, Sept 2003 - April 2004

· Rice Psychology Seminar Series

· Rice Departmental Cognitive Tea Series

· Rice University Event Calendar

· Baylor College of Medicine, Neuroscience Seminar Series

· University of Houston Medical School Seminar Series