10.6084/m9.figshare.12016917.v1
Prasanna R. Karunanayaka
Prasanna R.
Karunanayaka
Jiaming Lu
Jiaming
Lu
Qing X. Yang
Qing X.
Yang
K. Sathian
K.
Sathian
Olfactory Costimulation Influences Intranasal Somatosensory Perception
Brill Online
2020
multisensory integration of bodily signals
olfactory system
trigeminal system
localization
Sensory Processes, Perception and Performance
2020-04-29 06:28:42
Journal contribution
https://brill.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Olfactory_Costimulation_Influences_Intranasal_Somatosensory_Perception/12016917
<p>Olfactory
sensitivity is influenced by intranasal trigeminal sensation. For instance,
sniffing is central to how humans and animals perceive odorants. Here, we
investigated the influence of olfactory costimulation on the perception of
intranasal somatosensory stimulation. In this study, 22 healthy human subjects,
with normal olfactory function, performed a localization task for stimulation
using weak air puffs, a pure odorant, phenyl ethyl alcohol (PEA; rose odor), or
their combination. Visual cues were used to inform participants to briefly hold
their breath while weak, poorly localizable, air puffs and/or PEA were
delivered to either nostril. Although PEA alone could not be localized to the
correct nostril, when it accompanied a weak air puff in the ipsilateral
nostril, localization accuracy significantly improved, relative to presentation
of the air puff without the odorant. The enhancement of localization was absent
when the air puff and PEA were presented to opposite nostrils. Since
ipsilateral but not contralateral costimulation with PEA increased the accuracy
of weak air puff localization, the results argue against a non-specific
alerting effect of PEA. These findings suggest an interaction between olfactory
and intranasal somatosensory stimuli leading to their integration.</p>