We know how our olfactory (nerve cells for smell) detect and interpret smells we encounter, and how they can trigger certain responses. What we don't entirely know is why bad smells can trigger unpleasant, even "violent" (like regurgitating) responses. The bad smell reaction seems to be connected to our system's ability to protect us from harmful bacteria and gases present in spoiled foods, flesh, etc.
It all comes down to chemical reactions, or chemosenses. Our tongue detects different tastes on different sectors, like sweet on the tip of our tongue and bitter at the back of our throat. Our sense of smell reacts with other senses, like taste, so we get a variety of responses.
But, why would we feel like throwing up? Perhaps an overload of unpleasant smells would be the cause. That seems logical to me.
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We know how our olfactory (nerve cells for smell) detect and interpret smells we encounter, and how they can trigger certain responses. What we don't entirely know is why bad smells can trigger unpleasant, even "violent" (like regurgitating) responses. The bad smell reaction seems to be connected to our system's ability to protect us from harmful bacteria and gases present in spoiled foods, flesh, etc.
It all comes down to chemical reactions, or chemosenses. Our tongue detects different tastes on different sectors, like sweet on the tip of our tongue and bitter at the back of our throat. Our sense of smell reacts with other senses, like taste, so we get a variety of responses.
But, why would we feel like throwing up? Perhaps an overload of unpleasant smells would be the cause. That seems logical to me.
JMHO
July 30, 2009 - 5:15pmThis Comment
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