The world smells different to each nostril

Noam Sobel (), Rehan M. Khan, Amnon Saltman, Edith V. Sullivan and John D. E. Gabrieli
Additional contact information
Noam Sobel: Program in Neuroscience, Stanford University
Rehan M. Khan: Departments of Psychology
Amnon Saltman: Ministry of Environmental Protection
Edith V. Sullivan: Program in Neuroscience, Stanford University
John D. E. Gabrieli: Program in Neuroscience, Stanford University

Nature, 1999, vol. 402, issue 6757, 35-35

Abstract: Abstract The flow of air is greater into one nostril than into the other because there is a slight turbinate swelling in one1,2,3. The nostril that takes in more air switches from the left to the right one and back again every few hours4,5,6, but the effect of this switching on the sense of smell has been unclear7,8. Here we show that this difference in airflow between the nostrils causes each nostril to be optimally sensitized to different odorants, so that each nostril conveys a slightly different olfactory image to the brain.

Date: 1999
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DOI: 10.1038/46944

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