We see in stereo. We hear in stereo. How about smell? Are the receptors separated by nostril?
“Chocolate cake at… sniff…2 o’clock!”
I suspect that we can do it in that I seem to be able to determine pretty well the direction of an odor pretty well. Maybe I’m imagining things and it’s really just my head turning towards the odor. We have two nostrils (albeit very close together) and two olfactory bulbs.
In fact, NPR agrees with me.
I don’t think it’s exactly like hearing or seeing. Those bulbs are pretty close together. Is the concentration of particles in the air really that different a half-inch apart?
It’s probably a very subtle capability that some people are better at than others; and could be improved by training.
I did a simple experiement… I went upstairs, took the lid off the kitchen trash container (noticable odour)… then I closed my eyes, turned around slowly until I knew I had lost my orientation, and attempted to point at the trash can, Ironically I wound up pointing at the open kitchen window, 180 degrees away from can.
I think we subconsciously use visual clues to identify sources of smell.
Regards
FML