Why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of vision
In this paper we analyze some key concepts and problems in olfaction and argue that many concepts borrowed from vision are not helpful in elucidating the functions of human olfaction. This is illustrated with several examples. Olfaction is rarely in the focus of human attention. Olfaction is, compar...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1244480/full |
| _version_ | 1797671734768304128 |
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| author | Per Møller Egon P. Köster |
| author_facet | Per Møller Egon P. Köster |
| author_sort | Per Møller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper we analyze some key concepts and problems in olfaction and argue that many concepts borrowed from vision are not helpful in elucidating the functions of human olfaction. This is illustrated with several examples. Olfaction is rarely in the focus of human attention. Olfaction is, compared to vision, a ‘hidden sense’, but still guides many important behaviors by way of unattended unconscious olfactory perception and implicit memory. Not all olfactory processing, however, is of an unconscious nature. Flavors, and the pleasures gained from them, are most often consciously perceived. These are experiences mostly determined by olfaction, taste, touch and chemesthesis. Our analyses lead us to conclude that olfaction should not be modeled on vision, neither conceptually nor with respect to the problems solved by the two senses. A critical examination of the ecological and physical constraints of olfaction and the other senses should be given priority. Such analyses will further our understanding of which problems are solved by the different senses and how they collaborate to guide us through the world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:19:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-562dff084d134695ba79a8b7353846f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:19:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-562dff084d134695ba79a8b7353846f82023-09-28T09:32:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-09-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12444801244480Why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of visionPer Møller0Egon P. Köster1Per Møller Consulting, Bagsværd, DenmarkHelmholtz Institute, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsIn this paper we analyze some key concepts and problems in olfaction and argue that many concepts borrowed from vision are not helpful in elucidating the functions of human olfaction. This is illustrated with several examples. Olfaction is rarely in the focus of human attention. Olfaction is, compared to vision, a ‘hidden sense’, but still guides many important behaviors by way of unattended unconscious olfactory perception and implicit memory. Not all olfactory processing, however, is of an unconscious nature. Flavors, and the pleasures gained from them, are most often consciously perceived. These are experiences mostly determined by olfaction, taste, touch and chemesthesis. Our analyses lead us to conclude that olfaction should not be modeled on vision, neither conceptually nor with respect to the problems solved by the two senses. A critical examination of the ecological and physical constraints of olfaction and the other senses should be given priority. Such analyses will further our understanding of which problems are solved by the different senses and how they collaborate to guide us through the world.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1244480/fullolfactionvisionexplicitimplicitecological validityidentification |
| spellingShingle | Per Møller Egon P. Köster Why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of vision Frontiers in Psychology olfaction vision explicit implicit ecological validity identification |
| title | Why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of vision |
| title_full | Why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of vision |
| title_fullStr | Why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of vision |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of vision |
| title_short | Why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of vision |
| title_sort | why human olfaction should not be modeled on theories and tasks of vision |
| topic | olfaction vision explicit implicit ecological validity identification |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1244480/full |
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