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- Title
Sniffing speeds up chemical detection by controlling air-flows near sensors.
- Authors
Spencer, Thomas L.; Clark, Adams; Fonollosa, Jordi; Virot, Emmanuel; Hu, David L.
- Abstract
Most mammals sniff to detect odors, but little is known how the periodic inhale and exhale that make up a sniff helps to improve odor detection. In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we use fluid mechanics and machine olfaction to rationalize the benefits of sniffing at different rates. We design and build a bellows and sensor system to detect the change in current as a function of odor concentration. A fast sniff enables quick odor recognition, but too fast a sniff makes the amplitude of the signal comparable to noise. A slow sniff increases signal amplitude but delays its transmission. This trade-off may inspire the design of future devices that can actively modulate their sniffing frequency according to different odors. Sniff frequency naturally varies with animal type due to allometric scaling. Using data from live animals and a machine olfactory system, Spencer et al. reveal a deeper reason for sniffing with implications for designing gas detectors: the sniff is adapted to efficient odor detection.
- Subjects
GAS detectors; CONCENTRATION functions; DETECTORS; SPEED; ODORS
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2021, Vol 12, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-021-21405-y