The right nostril sends signals to the olfactory cortex in the right hemisphere, while the left nostril activates the left hemisphere. The signals are not the same
Last Friday (3), a study published in the scientific journal Current biology revealed that each nostril identifies odors differently. The researchers reached this conclusion by observing the brain activity of 10 people exposed to a series of aromas.
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At the time, the participants were epilepsy patients and received intracranial electrodes to pinpoint the neural origins of their seizures. During tests with different aromas, the scientists recorded activity in the olfactory cortex of the people involved.
Patients were greeted with aromas of banana, coffee and eucalyptus, delivered through tubes in each nostril. Brain activity was measured while these fragrances were injected into the left, right, or both nostrils.
Odors injected into both nostrils simultaneously activated two distinct representations in the brain, with the right nostril sending signals to the olfactory cortex in the right hemisphere, while the left nostril activated the left hemisphere. These two signals were not entirely identical, so each nostril triggered a unique experience.
The nostrils interpret scents independently
Similarly, when the same odor was presented to each nostril individually, the activity patterns produced were similar but not the same. The researchers say that odor information from both nostrils is temporarily segregated in the primary olfactory cortex.
Thus, an odor presented to a specific nostril elicits a response in the corresponding cerebral hemisphere, while the opposite hemisphere is activated only about half a second later. According to researchers, this trick embedded in perfume could help humans identify the source of an odor.
Mysteries of smell
This year, in a study published in the scientific journal Natureresearchers described for the first time how olfactory receptors work. The team found that within the structure of the interconnected molecules, OR51E2 had trapped propionate inside a small pocket. When they enlarged this pocket, the receiver lost much of its sensitivity.
In addition to revealing that the nostril identifies odors on its own, studies have also revealed this humanity is gradually losing the sense of smell. At the time, the team discovered two genetic changes linked to smell and compared them to 27 other mutations already known to science.
Source: Current biology
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Source: Terra
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