Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Emotional Correlates of Unirhinal Odor Identification

Wilkinson, David T., Moreno, Sergio, Ang, Chee Siang, Deravi, Farzin, Sharma, Dinkar, Sakel, Mohamed (2015) Emotional Correlates of Unirhinal Odor Identification. Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition, 21 (1). pp. 85-99. ISSN 1357-650X. E-ISSN 1465-0678. (doi:10.1080/1357650X.2015.1075546) (KAR id:49603)

Abstract

It seems self-evident that smell profoundly shapes emotion, but less clear is the nature of this interaction. Here we sought to determine whether the ability to identify odors co-varies with self-reported feelings of empathy and emotional expression recognition, as predicted if the two capacities draw on common resource. Thirty six neurotypical volunteers were administered the Alberta Smell Test, The Interpersonal Reactivity Index and an emotional expression recognition task. Statistical analyses indicated that feelings of emotional empathy positively correlated with odor discrimination in right nostril, while the recognition of happy and fearful facial expressions positively correlated with odor discrimination in left nostril. These results uncover new links between olfactory discrimination and emotion which, given the ipsilateral configuration of the olfactory projections, point towards intra- rather than inter-hemispheric interaction. The results also provide novel support for the proposed lateralisation of emotional empathy and the recognition of facial expression, and give reason to further explore the diagnostic sensitivity of smell tests because reduced sensitivity to others’ emotions can mark the onset of certain neurological diseases.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/1357650X.2015.1075546
Uncontrolled keywords: smell, affect, hemisphere, normative sample.
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Q Science > QM Human anatomy
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Tina Thompson
Date Deposited: 20 Jul 2015 09:28 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 13:26 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/49603 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Wilkinson, David T..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Ang, Chee Siang.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1109-9689
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Deravi, Farzin.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0885-437X
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Sharma, Dinkar.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0082-1285
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.