Changes in absolute detection threshold and in subjective intensity of suprathreshold stimuli during olfactory adaptation and recovery

Abstract

Olfactory adaptation and recovery to methyl isobutyl ketone at a concentration 10 times the absolute detection threshold (It o) was intensively studied in two human Ss. A combined psychophysical procedure was used that allowed comparisons of changes in threshold (It) with changes in the subjective intensity of suprathreshold stimuli. Information was also obtained on the effect of the adapting stimulus on the psychophysical power function for this odorant. A threshold detection procedure was used to estimate changes in It; an unstructured magnitude-estimation procedure was used to monitor changes in the subjective intensity of suprathreshold stimuli and the psychophysical power function. The data provided additional information on the behavioral course of olfactory adaptation and recovery and suggested that this combined method can be used profitably for further investigations of this kind. Complementary to the work of Cain and Engen (1969), the results suggested an increase in the exponent of the power function with increasing adaptation.