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Related Experiment Videos

Phantom smelling.

George Grouios1

  • 1Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece. ggrouios@phed.auth.gr

Perceptual and Motor Skills
|June 26, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Phantom smelling (phantosmia) can occur years after permanent smell loss due to brain injury. This suggests the brain can generate olfactory sensations independently of external odor input.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory perception research

Background:

  • Olfactory perception is typically understood as a direct response to external odorant molecules.
  • Previous understanding assumed olfactory experiences cease with the loss of olfactory receptor input.

Observation:

  • A 28-year-old man experienced persistent phantom smelling (phantosmia).
  • This occurred three years after sustaining permanent bilateral anosmia (loss of smell) due to injury to olfactory brain structures.

Findings:

  • The neural representation of olfactory perception remained functional despite the absence of olfactory receptor input.
  • The brain generated olfactory sensations without conscious recall or external odor stimulation.
  • Neuronal activity in olfactory pathways can create perceived smells originating from past odor experiences.

Implications:

  • Olfactory perception may be an actively generated process, not solely a passive reflection of sensory input.
  • Neural representations in the olfactory system or related brain areas can continuously generate olfactory experiences.
  • This case suggests a potential role for genetic and sensory determinants in shaping olfactory perception independently of current sensory data.

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