Methods in smell perception research

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In olfaction the absolute and differential threshold for odor perception are explored using the following methods:

• Method of limits
• Method of adjustment
• Method of constant stimuli

The stimuli in the past was usually provided by a Zwaardemaker olfractometer, a type of glass tube by which an odorant was introduced into the nose. The amount of odour being calibrated by the length of the tube. This was a device developed in 1888 by the Dutch physiologist, Hendrick Zwaardemaker who also developed the Zwaardemaker smell system.

The concentrations of odorant in Germany are defined by the “Olfaktometrie” since the 1970’s. This is the standard method for defining the sensory threshold of odours on the basis of dilutions of concentrated odour loaded assays.

See also

• Psychophysics
• Odor detection threshold
• Sniffin' Sticks test
• University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test

Key texts

Papers

Doty, R.L. (1991) Psychophysical measurement of odor perception in humans. In Laing, D.G., Doty, R.L. and Breipohl, W. (eds), The Human Sense of Smell. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 95–151.

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