Olfaction and sensory asymmetry

Eighty years ago it was demonstrated that odours presented to the left side of the nose are much better perceived than odours presented to the right side. This finding could not be corroborated in our experiment. Some possible explanations are offered to account for the different results. It also turned out that olfactory sensitivity when smelling with both nostrils open is hardly higher than with one nostril open. It was furthermore suggested that differences between the two sides of the nose might play a role in studies where verbal and emotional processes are involved, as in olfactory recognition, memory and preference.