Human olfaction: a constant state of change-blindness

摘要: Paradoxically, although humans have a superb sense of smell, they don’t trust their nose. Furthermore, human odorant detection thresholds are very low, only unusually high concentrations spontaneously shift our attention to olfaction. Here we suggest that this lack olfactory awareness reflects the nature is shaped by spatial and temporal envelopes Regarding envelope, selective allocated in space. Humans direct an attentional spotlight within coordinates both vision audition. Human abilities minimal. Thus, with no space, there arena for attention. whereas audition consist nearly continuous input, input discreet, made sniffs widely separated time. If similar breaks artificially introduced audition, induce “change blindness”, loss capture results change. Whereas blindness” aberration long inter-sniff-interval renders anosmia” norm Therefore, olfaction minimal, as awareness. All this, however, does not diminish role through sub-attentive mechanisms allowing subliminal smells profound influence on behavior perception.