Enhanced odor source localization with control of the distance between the left and right nostrils

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20329
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 61020:Human interface and interaction-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Sangyo University
• Principal Investigator: Nagaya Naohisa 京都産業大学, 情報理工学部, 准教授 (10636418)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 能動的嗅覚 / 嗅覚ダミーヘッド / 鼻孔間距離 / 行動軌跡計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to clarify the effect of inter-nasal distance on human odor source exploration. The movement trajectory analysis of exploratory behavior suggested that narrower inter-nasal distance facilitated the tracking of odor sources. Since COVID-19 made it difficult to conduct experiments with subjects, the research strategy was changed to developing a dummy head to clarify how the nostril position and nasal cavity shape are related to the propagation of odorants associated with breathing.

Free Research Field

情報学・人間情報学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

十分な研究成果は得られなかったが、人間の鼻の形状がニオイの知覚やニオイ源の探査行動にどのように影響するのかに取り組んだ成果は、VR空間内でのニオイ提示に援用できる。また、研究方針を転換して開発を進めている嗅覚ダミーヘッドの開発により、メガネが曇りにくいマスクや香りがわかりやすくなるグラスなどの開発に貢献できると考えている。