Document Detail


Time and intensity factors in identification of components of odor mixtures.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20720093     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Identification of odors of compounds introduced into changeable olfactory environments is the essence of olfactory coding, which focuses perception on the latest stimulus with the greatest salience. Effects of stimulus intensity and adapting time on mixture component identification after adapting with one component were each studied in 10 human subjects. Odors of 1 and 5 mM vanillin (vanilla) and phenethyl alcohol (rose) were identified, with adapting time varied by sniffing naturally once or twice, or sniffing 5 times, once every 2 s. Odors of water-adapted single compounds were identified nearly perfectly (94%), self-adapted to 51% but did not cross-adapt (94%), showing the 2 compounds had quickly adapting independent odors. Identifications of the vanilla and rose odors in water-adapted mixtures were reduced to 59% and 79%, respectively. Following single-component adaptation, the average 33% identification of odors of adapted (ambient) mixture components contrasted with the greater average 86% identification of new unadapted (extra) mixture components. Identifications were lower for 1 than 5 mM components when concentrations were not matched, and ambient component identifications were lower after 10-s adaptation than after 1 or 2 sniffs. Rapid selective adaptation and mixture component suppression manipulate effective intensity to promote emergence of characteristic odor qualities in dynamic natural settings.
Authors:
Marion E Frank; Holly F Goyert; Thomas P Hettinger
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural     Date:  2010-08-18
Journal Detail:
Title:  Chemical senses     Volume:  35     ISSN:  1464-3553     ISO Abbreviation:  Chem. Senses     Publication Date:  2010 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-10-15     Completed Date:  2011-02-02     Revised Date:  2011-11-01    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8217190     Medline TA:  Chem Senses     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  777-87     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Periodontology, Center for Chemosensory Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-1715, USA. mfrank@neuron.uchc.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adaptation, Physiological
Animals
Attention
Discrimination (Psychology) / physiology*
Humans
Identification (Psychology)
Odors / analysis*
Perception / physiology*
Sensory Thresholds
Smell / physiology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
5R01 DC004849/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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