Human olfactory sensitivity varies across geographical locations

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Aleksandra Reichert - , University of Wrocław (Author)
  • Nixon M. Abraham - , Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (Author)
  • Jancy N. Abraham - , Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (Author)
  • Maria Laura Albanese - , Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (Author)
  • Rafieh Alizadeh - , Iran University of Medical Sciences (Author)
  • Ines Aloulou - , University of Tunis El Manar (Author)
  • Lixin Chen - , Southern Medical University (Author)
  • Ma. Lourdes Berioso Enecilla - , St. Luke's Medical Center Quezon City (Author)
  • Marco Aurelio Fornazieri - , Universidade Estadual de Londrina (Author)
  • Johannes Frasnelli - , University of Quebec (Author)
  • Juan Martin Fuselli - (Author)
  • Fatima Gansatao - (Author)
  • Cagdas Guducu - , Dokuz Eylul University (Author)
  • Anna Kristina Hernandez - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Philippine General Hospital (Author)
  • Marlise K. Hofer - , University of Houston-Victoria (Author)
  • Salina Husain - , Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Author)
  • Reda Kamel - , Assiut University (Author)
  • Elliott Lamond - , Macquarie University (Author)
  • Francesco Loy - , University of Cagliari (Author)
  • Mehmet K. Mahmut - , Macquarie University (Author)
  • Daniel Marek - , University of Wrocław (Author)
  • Carla Masala - , University of Cagliari (Author)
  • Elizabeth Michaluk - , University of Quebec (Author)
  • Imen Miri - , University of Tunis El Manar (Author)
  • Marjan Mirsalehi - , Iran University of Medical Sciences (Author)
  • Plamena Miteva - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Author)
  • Isabel Bernardes Moura - , Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (Author)
  • Anasuha Musa - , Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Author)
  • Hanene Naija - , University of Tunis El Manar (Author)
  • Keigo Nakaachi - , Nippon Medical School (Author)
  • Jayant M. Pinto - , Pritzker School of Medicine (Author)
  • Patricia Portillo Mazal - , Universidad de Buenos Aires (Author)
  • Ahmed Radwan - , Assiut University (Author)
  • Farhad Rafiei - , Iran University of Medical Sciences (Author)
  • Devesh Rawat - , Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (Author)
  • Katarzyna Resler - , Wrocław Medical University (Author)
  • Henrique O. Scussiatto - , Pritzker School of Medicine (Author)
  • Hozifa Alsaid Sheta - , Assiut University (Author)
  • Sharanya M. Thodupunoori - , Pritzker School of Medicine (Author)
  • Brianna J. Turner - , University of Houston-Victoria (Author)
  • Nora Van Oosterhout - , Macquarie University (Author)
  • Hangying Wu - , Southern Medical University (Author)
  • Ayaho Yoshino - , Nippon Medical School (Author)
  • Laiquan Zou - , Southern Medical University (Author)
  • Barbara Zyzelewicz - , University of Wrocław (Author)
  • Thomas Hummel - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Author)
  • Anna Oleszkiewicz - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wrocław (Author)

Abstract

It has been assumed that olfactory sensitivity is relatively consistent in different populations worldwide. Emerging, yet fragmented evidence lends credit to the hypothesis that olfactory sensitivity may be geographically diverse. To gain deeper insight regarding the interplay between geographical, demographic, and health factors in the context of olfactory sensitivity, we conducted a multicenter study comprising data from 1046 participants inhabiting 19 locations around the world. Our results revealed that location accounted for 17-20% of the variance in chemosensory sensitivity. Demographic and psychological factors related to working memory and depressive symptoms also contribute to explaining sensitivity to odors, accounting for 1.6-2.9% of the variance in chemosensory sensitivity. Thus, we conclude that inhabitants of different geographical regions may present different sensitivities to chemical stimuli. We discuss the factors that could potentially be included in future investigations to pinpoint even more precisely what factors determine differences in chemosensory sensitivity around the globe.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number9713
Number of pages13
JournalScientific reports
Volume16
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 18 Feb 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41708759
Scopus 105034454733
ORCID /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/211722118
ORCID /0000-0001-6711-7359/work/211722499

Keywords

Keywords

  • Neuroscience, Olfaction, Olfactory sensitivity, Olfactory system, Psychology