Lateralisation in wine olfactory threshold detection: comparison between experts and novices

The study of olfactory lateralisation in humans has given rise to many publications, but few studies have been focused on possible differences in relation to the experience towards specific odorants. The aim of the present study was to compare unilateral detection thresholds for three wines between expert and novice judges. Additionally, irritation and hedonic valence were also evaluated using monorhinal stimulations. Results showed that the novices had lower detection thresholds with the left nostril--whatever the wine--compared to the experts. Concerning hedonic rating, no nostril difference existed in the expert group contrary to the novice group, which evaluated wines as more pleasant with the left than with the right nostril. Irritation rating appeared not to be lateralised in both groups. However, the novices rated the three wines as more irritant than the experts with the right as well as with the left nostril. These findings suggest that the level of experience induced specific differences in terms of lateralisation between wine experts and novices.