An Evaluation of the Autonomic Nervous Activity and Psychomotor Vigilance Level for Smells in the Work Booth

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of the smell environment in the work booth on autonomic nervous activity (ANS) and psychomotor vigilance levels (PVLs) using linalool (LNL) and trans-2-nonenal (T2N). The subjects were six healthy males (31 ± 6 years old) and six healthy females (24 ± 5 years old). They sat in the work booth filled with the smells of LNL and T2N for 10 min, and their electrocardiograms (ECGs), skin conductance levels, pulse wave variabilities, skin temperatures, and seat pressure distributions were measured. In addition, the orthostatic load test (OLT) and psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) were performed before and after entering the work booth, and a subjective evaluation of the smell was also performed after the experiment. This paper focused on ECG and PVT data and analyzed changes in heart rate variability indices and PVT scores. Males felt slightly comfortable with the LNL smell and showed promoted sympathetic nerve activity in the OLT after the smell presentation. Females felt slightly uncomfortable with the T2N smell and showed promoted sympathetic nerve activity and a decrease in PVT scores in the OLT after the smell presentation. Gender differences were observed in ANS and PVLs, and it is possible that the comfort of LNL increased sympathetic nervous activity in males, while the uncomfortableness of T2N may have reduced work performance in females.