Odor primaries: an olfactory analogue of RGB

• Embargoed until April 17th, 2018
  
  Media Contact: Dr. Thomas Mast, Chair, Public Information and Affairs Committee; email: [email protected]. Before April 17th and after 20th April: Phone 734 487 6916; April 17th–20th, 2017, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, Bonita Springs, FL; Phone +1 850 212 7072.

We generate an olfactory perceptual space that implies a set of odor primaries, namely a limited set of molecules that can mix to form any perceivable odor.

How do you measure a smell? We related information on chemical odor structure to information on odor perception in order to generate a numeric scale for smell. We then identified the smallest difference between two odors along this scale that can still be discriminated by the human nose. This tiniest yet detectable difference is the “just noticeable difference” (JND) in olfaction. Finally, we identified a set of molecules we could use to generate mixtures that are within JND of all perceivable smells. In other words, we identified odor primaries that can mix to form any perceivable odor. (contact Dr. Noam Sobel, [email protected], +972-08-9346253)

The poster presentation “Defining The Just Noticeable Difference (Jnd) In Olfaction Allows Digitizing Smell” (#P133) takes place Wednesday, 18 April, 8:00 – 10:30 am ET in the Estero Ballroom.

Full author list: Aharon Ravia, Kobi Snitz, David Harel, Noam Sobel