Human Olfactory Perception: Characteristics, Mechanisms and Functions

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorPomerantz, James R.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberChen, Denise
dc.contributor.committeeMemberLogan, Jessica M.
dc.creatorChen, Jennifer
dc.date.accessioned2013-09-16T14:56:11Z
dc.date.accessioned2013-09-16T14:56:14Z
dc.date.available2013-09-16T14:56:11Z
dc.date.available2013-09-16T14:56:14Z
dc.date.created2013-05
dc.date.issued2013-09-16
dc.date.submittedMay 2013
dc.date.updated2013-09-16T14:56:15Z
dc.description.abstractOlfactory sensing is ubiquitous across animals and important for survival. Yet, its characteristics, mechanisms, and functions in humans remain not well understood. In this dissertation, I present four studies on human olfactory perception. Study I investigates the impact of short-term exposures to an odorant on long-term olfactory learning and habituation, while Study II examines human ability to localize smells; Study III probes visual-olfactory integration of object representations, and Study IV explores the role of olfaction in sensing nutrients. Several conclusions are drawn from these studies. First, brief intermittent exposures to even a barely detectable odorant lead to long-term incremental odorant-specific habituation. Second, humans localize smells based on gradient cues between the nostrils. Third, there is a within-hemispheric advantage in the integration of visual-olfactory object representations. Fourth, olfaction partakes in nutrient-sensing and facilitates the detection of food. Some broader implications of our findings are discussed.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.citationChen, Jennifer. "Human Olfactory Perception: Characteristics, Mechanisms and Functions." (2013) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71936">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71936</a>.
dc.identifier.slug123456789/ETD-2013-05-422
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/71936
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.subjectOlfaction
dc.subjectSmell
dc.subjectHabituation
dc.subjectLocalization
dc.subjectVision
dc.subjectBinocular rivalry
dc.subjectTaste
dc.subjectMultisensory integration
dc.subjectSystems
dc.subjectCognitive neuroscience
dc.titleHuman Olfactory Perception: Characteristics, Mechanisms and Functions
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentPsychology
thesis.degree.disciplineSocial Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
CHEN-THESIS.pdf
Size:
1.62 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.61 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Rice University Electronic Theses and Dissertations