Cited by 168Olfactory and Sensory Function StudiesTactile and Sensory InteractionsFace Recognition and Perception

Blind smell: brain activation induced by an undetected air-borne chemical

Sobel, Noam, Prabhakaran, Vivek, Hartley, Catherine A., Desmond, John E., Glover, Gary H., Sullivan, Edith V., Gabrieli, John D. E.·1999·Brain

Abstract

EEG and behavioural evidence suggests that air-borne chemicals can affect the nervous system without being consciously detected. EEG and behaviour, however, do not specify which brain structures are involved in chemical sensing that occurs below a threshold of conscious detection. Here we used functional MRI to localize brain activation induced by high and low concentrations of the air-borne compound oestra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraen-3yl acetate. Following presentations of both concentrations, eight of eight subjects reported verbally that they could not detect any odour (P = 0.004). Forced choice detection performed during the presentations revealed above-chance detection of the high concentration, but no better than chance detection of the low concentration compound. Both concentrations induced significant brain activation, primarily in the anterior medial thalamus and inferior frontal gyrus. Activation in the inferior frontal gyrus during the high concentration condition was significantly greater in the right than in the left hemisphere (P = 0.03). A trend towards greater thalamic activation was observed for the high concentration than the low concentration compound (P = 0.08). These findings localize human brain activation that was induced by an undetectable air-borne chemical (the low concentration compound).

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Crossref · 10.1093/brain/122.2.209

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  • A chemosensory response in the human brain without any conscious perception of stimulation has been identified by fMRI using estra-1,3,5(10) tetraen-3-yl acetate, a steroid related to substances extracted from human skin.

    “A chemosensory response in the human brain without any conscious perception of stimulation has been identified by fMRI using another 'vomeropherin' steroid, estra-1,3,5(10) tetraen-3-yl acetate, related to substances extracted from human skin (Sobel et al., 1999).”

    From Human Vomeronasal Organ Function: A Critical Review of Best and Worst Cases (2001) · cites this paper as Sobel et al., 1999

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Authors
Sobel, N., Prabhakaran, V., Hartley, C. A., Desmond, J. E., Glover, G. H., Sullivan, E. V., & Gabrieli, J. D. E.
Affiliations
Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author
Sobel, Noam
Venue
Brain
Published
1999-02
Volume
122
Issue
2
Pages
209-217
ISSN
  • 0006-8950 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2156
OpenAlex
W2138967893
Cited by
168
References
54
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 3
FWCI
4.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Brain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA-05965, AA10723)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR 09784, P41RR009784)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
Keywords
olfaction, odor detection threshold, brain activation, inferior frontal gyrus, hemispheric lateralization, functional MRI
MeSH terms
Adult, Discrimination Learning, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Estrenes, Frontal Lobe, Gyrus Cinguli, Hippocampus, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Olfactory Pathways, Pheromones, Smell, Thalamus, Single-Blind Method, Vomeronasal Organ

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