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Science 25 February 1977:
Vol. 195. no. 4280, pp. 796 - 798
DOI: 10.1126/science.836592
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Articles

Science, Vol 195, Issue 4280, 796-798
Copyright © 1977 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Differential sensitivity for smell: "noise" at the nose

WS Cain

The ability of subjects to resolve differences in concentration of chemicals in the vapor phase by smell rivaled the optimum performance of chromatographs. In some instances, subjects resolved a difference in concentration of only 5 percent. The reported inability of olfaction to register fine differences in intensity seems to be largely a result of fluctuations in the stimulus.


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