Stress causes a person to smell unpleasant odors

Stress is an inevitable attribute of modern life, which can manifest itself in various forms: from small everyday problems to serious crises. However, as American scientists have found, stress can not only affect our emotional state, but also distort our perception of smells. A study conducted by experts showed that stress can cause a person to smell unpleasant odors.

Scientists have found that during stress, special areas in the brain are activated that affect the sense of smell. These areas distort odors, making them appear more unpleasant than they actually are. The study was conducted on a group of 12 volunteers who were put into an anxious state and had their brains scanned. As a result, the scientists found that during times of stress, the experiment participants perceived neutral odors as unpleasant or strange.

In addition, scientists also found that the perception of odors depends on the amount of stress. The stronger the anxiety, the more unpleasant the smell. This is due to the mixing of emotional and olfactory circuits in the brain. Under stress, these circuits can intertwine and influence each other, which leads to a distortion in the perception of odors.

Thus, stress can have a negative impact on our sense of smell, making odors more unpleasant and strange. This can lead to additional problems such as loss of appetite, bad mood, etc. Therefore, it is important to learn how to manage stress and find ways to relax to maintain your mental and physical health.