2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Psychological research on the function of attention in olfaction
Project/Area Number |
16K04418
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
Experimental psychology
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Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
Principal Investigator |
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Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
小早川 達 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 情報・人間工学領域, 研究グループ長 (70357010)
小林 剛史 文京学院大学, 人間学部, 教授 (30334022)
長野 祐一郎 文京学院大学, 人間学部, 准教授 (00325870)
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Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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Keywords | 嗅覚 / 注意 / 呼吸反応 / 心拍 / 圧力センサ |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
In this study, we attempted to elucidate the mechanism of "attention" involved in olfactory information processing by changing the concentration and type of continuously presented odor gases and measuring the detection of such changes (awareness) from psychological and physiological perspectives. Using a conventionally used thermistor, the variation of the respiratory interval within five cycles of in and exhale after switching the type of odor gas was observed, however, it was not always possible to predict the detection of odor changes. The pressure sensor developed by Kobayakawa made it possible to measure short-period breathing (sniffing), and it was observed that the sniffing appeared after the odor gas switchover, but the relationship with the detection of the odor change could not be verified. We also observed a tendency for the heart rate to decrease after the odor gas switchover, but this was not statistically significant.
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Free Research Field |
実験心理学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
現代の人間社会において嗅覚に向けられる注意資源は視聴覚と比較するとはるかに少ない。ガス漏れを警告するためのガスへの着臭は危険を回避するための手段として用いられているが、日常生活の中のにおいに注意が向けられていないとその危険を察知できない。また近年、ガス臭に遭遇する機会が少なく、ガス臭を知らないために、気づくことができないという報告もあり、環境中の化学物質の嗅覚情報処理における「注意」機能について検討することは、生活の質向上のために五感の機能を十分に活用することにつなげられる。
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