The Unique Smell Perception of Each Nostril Explained

A new study reveals that our two nostrils work independently and have their own separate sense of smell. Researchers found that the brain can process each nostril's input individually while also synthesizing them into a complete whole. The study, conducted on epilepsy patients with implanted brain electrodes, showed that smelling through two nostrils created two distinct bursts of activity, suggesting that the nostrils are not always in unison. The findings have implications for understanding how the brain processes sensory information and may extend beyond the sense of smell.