Abstract
The number of olfactory stimuli that humans can discriminate is still unknown
Highlights
A recent paper (Bushdid et al, 2014) proposed that humans can discriminate between at least a trillion olfactory stimuli
Using that paper’s methods to reanalyze the data it presented, we show that this estimate is problematically fragile
We conclude that the framework is unsound: there may be trillions of discriminable olfactory stimuli, or more, or fewer, but the framework does not provide the means for settling this question
Summary
A recent paper (Bushdid et al, 2014) proposed that humans can discriminate between at least a trillion olfactory stimuli. The first main concern is that the estimated number of discriminable stimuli depends steeply, systematically, and non-asymptotically on choices of arbitrary experimental parameters, among them the number of subjects enrolled, the number of discrimination tests performed, and the threshold for statistical significance.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
