Two Nostrils are Better than One…
(YSN Vol. 3, No. 1 – Jan. 2015)
[Adapted from “Smelling Roses: Your Nostrils May Part Ways,” by Kathleen O’Toole, Stanford Report, November 10, 1999]
When taking in the scent of something, it is noticeable to most people that one nostril sucks in air faster than the other, although scientists had not understood a purpose for this difference until a 1999 study was conducted. It appears the difference in airflow through the nostrils allows one nostril to better detect the odor of some substances, while the other nostril better detects others. Click here to read the full overview.