Submited on: 24 Oct 2012 09:48:36 AM GMT
Published on: 26 Oct 2012 06:26:06 PM GMT
 
Evolutionary Significance of Kissing
Posted by Dr. Russell Searight on 03 Nov 2012 12:33:38 AM GMT

  • What are the main claims of the paper and how important are they?

    Kissing has evolutionary significance. The author suggests that kissing may have two functions in this regard: 1.for males-- assessing (unconsciously ?) the estrogen levels of females and for females, assessing the health of a potential reproductive partner by evaluating (unconsciously ?) his immune functioning. There is also a suggestion that kissing is a means for men to transfer testosterone to a potential female reproductive partner for purposes of sexual arousal


  • Are these claims novel? If not, please specify papers that weaken the claims to the originality of this one.

    From the perspective of physiology, probably not. However, while I am not an evolutionary psychologist, I do have some familiarity with the literature in the area ahd have not seen this specific behavior addressed.


  • Are the claims properly placed in the context of the previous literature?

    I would have appreciated a more detailed review of related literature


  • Do the results support the claims? If not, what other evidence is required?

    This is at the hypothesis stage.


  • If a protocol is provided, for example for a randomized controlled trial, are there any important deviations from it? If so, have the authors explained adequately why the deviations occurred?

    NA


  • Is the methodology valid? Does the paper offer enough details of its methodology that its experiments or its analyses could be reproduced?

    NA


  • Would any other experiments or additional information improve the paper? How much better would the paper be if this extra work was done, and how difficult would such work be to do, or to provide?

    More evidence in support of the hypotheses or at least, indirectly bearing on the hypotheses


  • Is this paper outstanding in its discipline? (For example, would you like to see this work presented in a seminar at your hospital or university? Do you feel these results need to be incorporated in your next general lecture on the subject?) If yes, what makes it outstanding? If not, why not?

    It is at the hypothesis stage


  • Other Comments:

    Per the rating below--this is not a completed research study so I am not sure how applicable the rating scale is

  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    I teach evolutionary psychololgy as part of several courses at the University level

  • How to cite:  Searight R .Evolutionary Significance of Kissing[Review of the article 'The Neurophysiological Basis of Origin and Evolution of Romantic Kiss in Humans ' by Jaseja H].WebmedCentral 2012;3(11):WMCRW002321
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  • What are the main claims of the paper and how important are they?

    It's a nice and comprehensive review presenting several explictave hypotheses about the adaptive value and meaning of romantic kiss in humans, from the evolutionary point of view. The main issue is that kiss is not a culturally transmitted behavioural act, but it has a specific role in mating, and its use increases species fitness.


  • Are these claims novel? If not, please specify papers that weaken the claims to the originality of this one.

    Overall it's a novel perspective, althouhg many of the claims are largely shared by neuroscientists. 


  • Are the claims properly placed in the context of the previous literature?

    Yes


  • Do the results support the claims? If not, what other evidence is required?

    NA, it's a review


  • If a protocol is provided, for example for a randomized controlled trial, are there any important deviations from it? If so, have the authors explained adequately why the deviations occurred?

    NA, it's a review


  • Is the methodology valid? Does the paper offer enough details of its methodology that its experiments or its analyses could be reproduced?

    NA, it's a review


  • Would any other experiments or additional information improve the paper? How much better would the paper be if this extra work was done, and how difficult would such work be to do, or to provide?

    It's short but rich of information  


  • Is this paper outstanding in its discipline? (For example, would you like to see this work presented in a seminar at your hospital or university? Do you feel these results need to be incorporated in your next general lecture on the subject?) If yes, what makes it outstanding? If not, why not?

    Insightful


  • Other Comments:

    NA

  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    Social cognition, parental behaviour

  • How to cite:  Proverbio A M.The Evolutionary Importance of Kiss for Humans[Review of the article 'The Neurophysiological Basis of Origin and Evolution of Romantic Kiss in Humans ' by Jaseja H].WebmedCentral 2012;3(10):WMCRW002314
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