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Is there directional smelling?

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Summary

The aim of the present study was to establish the crucial precondition for directional smelling, i.e. the ability of humans to discriminate between odorous stimuli perceived either from the right or from the left side. When the ‘pure’ odorants hydrogen sulphide or vanillin were used as stimulants localization was random. On the other hand stimulation with carbon dioxide or menthol yielded identification rates of more than 96%. These results established the fact that directional orientation, considering single momentary odorous sensations, can only be assumed, when the olfactory stimulants simultaneously excite the trigeminal somatosensory system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universitätsstr. 22, D-8520, Erlangen, Federal Republic of Germany

    G. Kobal & T. Hummel

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, England

    S. Van Toller

Authors
  1. G. Kobal
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  2. S. Van Toller
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  3. T. Hummel
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Kobal, G., Van Toller, S. & Hummel, T. Is there directional smelling?. Experientia 45, 130–132 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01954845

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01954845

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