Sounds may enhance sense of smell

Traditionally we think of the five senses as separate and independent from one another but new research suggests our hearing could enhance our sense of smell. This discovery of a new sight-smell sound, or 'smound' happened accidentally during an experiment on mice to find out how the olfactory tubercle responds to odours. In further investigation when odours were accompanied by a sound, 29% of the time the responses were either enhanced or suppressed depending on the presence or absence of the second stimulus. Scientists Daniel Weston and Donald Wilson are planning to develop useful technology relating to the findings, for example a device emitting sound to increase a dog's sensitivity to explosives. But wine lovers could have fun listening to different types of music while sipping their favourite wine to see if it improves the flavour!