Human Sense of Smell is Faster Than Previously Thought, New Study Suggests
A recent study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour has revealed that the human sense of smell is significantly faster than previously assumed. The research found that humans can distinguish between odor sequences, even when the gap between the two scents is only 60 milliseconds, which is faster than the time it takes for an eye blink. This challenges earlier studies that indicated a discrimination time of around 1,200 milliseconds for odor sequences. The study also suggests that the ability to differentiate smells within a single sniff could be crucial for animals in identifying both the nature of a scent and its spatial location.
The study involved 229 adults in China who wore a sniff-activated device featuring check valves and Teflon tubes to deliver scents to the nose with an accuracy of 18 milliseconds. The odors tested included apple-like, sweet floral, lemon-like, and onion-like scents, with careful manipulation of the interval between them. The findings have implications for the development of electronic noses and olfactory reality systems, which could offer significant clinical advantages.
