Odor-Sensing Model

Abstract

In this chapter we develop a model of a “nose” with three receptors. Each of the three receptors is tuned to a particular type of odor, either 1, 2, or 3-The goal of the “nose” is for the dominant receptor to suppress the other two odors in order to send a clear signal to the brain regarding the type of odor being sensed. The odor changes over time according to the following rule:

$$ {\text{ODOR = IF}}\,{\text{TIME}} \leqslant {\text{15}}\;{\text{THEN}}\;{\text{NORMAL(1,}}{\text{.4)}}\;{\text{ELSE}}\;{\text{NORMAL(3,}}{\text{.4)}} $$

(1)

The only defect of our senses is, that they give us disproportion’d images of things. Hume, 1739.