The olfactory alert: when our body understands before our mind
Research published in 2018 in Frontiers in Psychology reveals that we, like animals, have a particular sensitivity to certain chemical compounds resulting from biological degradation. In experiments, volunteers exposed to these molecules (such as cadaverine) showed signs of anxiety and tension… without being able to consciously explain why.
Our bodies, for their part, had already sounded the alarm: something undesirable was looming. This olfactory defense mechanism is thought to be an evolutionary legacy, protecting us from potentially dangerous environments.
Can our noses perceive the approach of the end?
This question touches on one of the great mysteries of our existence, and yet it fascinates many healthcare professionals. In palliative care units, medical teams frequently report episodes of “terminal clairvoyance”: patients in their final stages of illness suddenly regain full consciousness, like a last gasp before departure.
Some researchers suggest that this final lucidity may be linked to a final activation of the senses. The sense of smell, in particular, is said to be able to detect minute biochemical changes in the body… signaling to the brain that the transition is approaching.
