Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells

One major unresolved problem in olfaction research is to relate the percept to the molecular structure of stimuli. The present study examined this issue and showed for the first time a quantitative structure-odor relationship in which the more structurally complex a monomolecular odorant, the more n...

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Autores principales: Kermen, F., Chakirian, A., Sezille, C., Joussain, P., Le Goff, G., Ziessel, A., Chastrette, M., Mandairon, N., Didier, A., Rouby, C., Bensafi, M.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Nature Publishing Group 2011
Materias:
Article
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3244502/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22355721
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep00206
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author Kermen, F.
Chakirian, A.
Sezille, C.
Joussain, P.
Le Goff, G.
Ziessel, A.
Chastrette, M.
Mandairon, N.
Didier, A.
Rouby, C.
Bensafi, M.
author_facet Kermen, F.
Chakirian, A.
Sezille, C.
Joussain, P.
Le Goff, G.
Ziessel, A.
Chastrette, M.
Mandairon, N.
Didier, A.
Rouby, C.
Bensafi, M.
author_sort Kermen, F.
collection PubMed
description One major unresolved problem in olfaction research is to relate the percept to the molecular structure of stimuli. The present study examined this issue and showed for the first time a quantitative structure-odor relationship in which the more structurally complex a monomolecular odorant, the more numerous the olfactory notes it evokes. Low-complexity odorants were also rated as more aversive, reflecting the fact that low molecular complexity may serve as a warning cue for the olfactory system. Taken together, these findings suggest that molecular complexity provides a framework to explain the subjective experience of smells.
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spelling pubmed-32445022011-12-22 Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells Kermen, F. Chakirian, A. Sezille, C. Joussain, P. Le Goff, G. Ziessel, A. Chastrette, M. Mandairon, N. Didier, A. Rouby, C. Bensafi, M. Sci Rep Article One major unresolved problem in olfaction research is to relate the percept to the molecular structure of stimuli. The present study examined this issue and showed for the first time a quantitative structure-odor relationship in which the more structurally complex a monomolecular odorant, the more numerous the olfactory notes it evokes. Low-complexity odorants were also rated as more aversive, reflecting the fact that low molecular complexity may serve as a warning cue for the olfactory system. Taken together, these findings suggest that molecular complexity provides a framework to explain the subjective experience of smells. Nature Publishing Group 2011-12-22 /pmc/articles/PMC3244502/ /pubmed/22355721 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep00206 Text en Copyright © 2011, Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareALike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
spellingShingle Article
Kermen, F.
Chakirian, A.
Sezille, C.
Joussain, P.
Le Goff, G.
Ziessel, A.
Chastrette, M.
Mandairon, N.
Didier, A.
Rouby, C.
Bensafi, M.
Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells
title Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells
title_full Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells
title_fullStr Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells
title_full_unstemmed Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells
title_short Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells
title_sort molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3244502/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22355721
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep00206
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