Ultrasound Waves Trigger Smell Sensations in New Research
Researchers have successfully induced specific smells in human subjects by non-invasively stimulating the olfactory bulb with focused ultrasound. A team led by [Lev Chizhov] has demonstrated the ability to trigger perceptions of odors like fresh air, garbage, ozone, and burning wood, opening potential avenues for digital scent technology.
The breakthrough stems from the understanding that the sense of smell originates in the olfactory bulb, located behind the nose.Previous attempts to directly stimulate this area faced challenges due to the nose’s irregular shape and air-filled cavities. To overcome this, the researchers developed a custom headset utilizing MRI guidance to precisely target the olfactory bulb with ultrasound delivered through the forehead.
While the study currently involves a small sample size of two participants, the results represent a novel approach to olfactory stimulation. The team’s work, detailed at writetobrain.com, builds on earlier explorations into virtual reality scent interfaces, such as the “Smell-o-vision” concepts and a separate VR gadget utilizing trigeminal nerve stimulation (as reported in Hackaday in October 2022). The precise mechanisms behind this ultrasound-induced olfactory experience remain under investigation.
