Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

A memoir of olfaction.

F Schiller1

  • 1Department of the History of Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0726, USA.

Journal of the History of the Neurosciences
|August 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Osphreiology, the study of smell, has a complex history intertwined with neuroscience and sensory perception. Understanding the olfactory system

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Tuning the carrier injection barrier of hybrid metal-organic interfaces on rare earth-gold surface compounds.

Nanoscale·2023
Same author

Correction: Influence of 4f filling on electronic and magnetic properties of rare earth-Au surface compounds.

Nanoscale·2021
Same author

Influence of 4f filling on electronic and magnetic properties of rare earth-Au surface compounds.

Nanoscale·2020
Same author

Comparison of PET/CT and whole-mount histopathology sections of the human prostate: a new strategy for voxel-wise evaluation.

EJNMMI physics·2017
Same author

High Temperature Ferromagnetism in a GdAg2 Monolayer.

Nano letters·2016
Same author

Emergence of spin-orbit fields in magnetotransport of quasi-two-dimensional iron on gallium arsenide.

Nature communications·2015

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory system research
  • Sensory perception

Background:

  • The study of olfaction (osphreiology) dates back to Aristotle, yet its complexity was poorly understood until the 19th century.
  • The intricate anatomical and physiological links between the nose and brain were more challenging to decipher than other sensory pathways.
  • Early research faced controversies regarding the distinct roles of the olfactory (first cranial) and gustatory (fifth cranial) nerves.

Observation:

  • Broca's "limbic" concept highlighted the evolutionary influence of cerebral structure on olfaction.
  • The "olfactory desert" in "anosmatic" animals provided insights into brain evolution.
  • Jackson's "uncinate" seizures, characterized by olfactory hallucinations, focused attention on the hippocampal formation.

Findings:

  • The olfactory system's complexity was gradually revealed through advancements in neuroscience and understanding of brain-olfactory connections.
  • Clinical observations of hyposmia (reduced smell) and hyperosmia (heightened smell) linked olfactory dysfunction to various conditions.
  • Conditions ranging from the common cold (coryza) to neoplasms and endocrine alterations were associated with altered olfactory perception.

Implications:

  • This historical overview underscores the evolving understanding of the human sense of smell and its neural underpinnings.
  • The study of olfaction has implications for understanding brain function, evolution, and neurological disorders.
  • Olfactory dysfunction can serve as a diagnostic indicator for a range of medical conditions, impacting quality of life.

Related Experiment Videos