Research is challenging the long-held belief that dogs have a superior sense of smell compared to humans. A new study suggests that when it comes to certain scents, the human nose may be even more sensitive.
It is commonly believed that dogs possess an incredibly powerful sense of smell, with their noses able to detect odors in extremely low concentrations. However, content creator Krish Ashok recently highlighted an interesting fact – while dogs excel at smelling external scents, humans may have an advantage in the realm of internal smells thanks to our unique ability known as retronasal olfaction.
So what exactly is this phenomenon, and how does it impact our sense of smell compared to canine capabilities? Let's take a deeper look.
The science of the human nose vs a dog's snout
Experts explain that dogs do have anatomical features that enhance their external olfaction, like a larger olfactory bulb and more receptor cells in their nose. However, recent research shows humans are able to discern over one trillion distinct odors.
When it comes to specific internal smells, our noses may surpass even a bloodhound's. Through retronasal olfaction, we can smell aromas that enter the nose from the back of the mouth while eating. This allows us to perceive rich, complex flavors in a way dogs cannot.
So while man's best friend takes top honors for detection of external scents, humans have a unique ability for analyzing internal aromas through taste and smell combined. Our large olfactory bulbs and diverse receptor types also allow discrimination of a wider range of relevant compounds.
Cultural cognition play a role
Additional factors like our developed cognitive skills and cultural experiences with flavors profile also enhance the human sense of smell. We can identify and describe smells in a sophisticated manner unlike most animals.
The next time your blocked nose dampens flavors, understand our reliant on the nose-mouth connection to fully sense what we ingest. With new understanding of smell science, it's clear both humans and hounds have their fortes when it comes to sniffing out scents in the world around us.
