Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Herman Melville on 03/08/2009 15:15:39

Title: Why does my sense of smell improve when I have a headache?
Post by: Herman Melville on 03/08/2009 15:15:39

Why does my sense of smell improve when I have a headache?


(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shsu.edu%2F%7Eeng_wpf%2Fauthors%2FMelville%2FMelville.gif&hash=be52315295b1444a9bf172e1600d2d9f)(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shsu.edu%2F%7Eeng_wpf%2Fauthors%2FMelville%2FMelville.gif&hash=be52315295b1444a9bf172e1600d2d9f)(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shsu.edu%2F%7Eeng_wpf%2Fauthors%2FMelville%2FMelville.gif&hash=be52315295b1444a9bf172e1600d2d9f)

Title: Why does my sense of smell improve when I have a headache?
Post by: MonikaS on 03/08/2009 18:43:58

I don't think your sense of smell improves. It's just that your brain is more busy with processing the pain, so the normal mechanisms of adaptation to external inputs like smell, sound etc. can't work as efficent as they normaly do.

Title: Why does my sense of smell improve when I have a headache?
Post by: sveur on 03/08/2009 22:21:57

But how do you smell?

Title: Why does my sense of smell improve when I have a headache?
Post by: BenV on 03/08/2009 23:23:26

Those images go delightfully 3d if you allow your eyes to cross...

I think Monika may have a point - it's likely there's no physiological change in the olfactory organs, or particularly in the brain - it may just be a change in awareness.  That's just speculation on my part though.