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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
NMR Spectroscopy: Chemical Shift Overview01:15

NMR Spectroscopy: Chemical Shift Overview

The position of the absorption signal of a sample is reported relative to the position of the signal of tetramethylsilane (TMS), which is added as an internal reference while recording spectra. The difference between the absorption frequencies of the sample and TMS (in Hz) is divided by the spectrometer operating frequency (in MHz) to obtain a dimensionless quantity called the chemical shift. It is reported on the δ (delta) scale and expressed in parts per million.
For instance, the proton...
Inductive Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview01:27

Inductive Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview

The protons in unsubstituted alkanes are strongly shielded with chemical shifts below 1.8 ppm. Methine, methylene, and methyl protons appear at approximately 1.7, 1.2 and 0.7 ppm, while the proton signal from methane appears at 0.23 ppm. An electronegative substituent, such as chlorine, withdraws the electron density from the protons, increasing their chemical shift. Progressive substitution of the hydrogens in methane by chlorine shifts the proton signals increasingly downfield, to 3.05 ppm in...
Sensation01:21

Sensation

Sensory receptors are specialized neurons that respond to specific types of external stimuli, initiating the process known as sensation. This occurs when sensory input, such as light entering the eye, is detected by these receptors, causing chemical changes in the cells of the retina. These cells then convert the sensory stimulus into action potentials that are transmitted to the central nervous system, a process termed transduction.
Absolute thresholds can quantify the sensitivity of sensory...

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Simultaneous Long-term Recordings at Two Neuronal Processing Stages in Behaving Honeybees
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Body position-dependent shift in odor percept present only for perithreshold odors.

Johan N Lundström1, Julie A Boyle, Marilyn Jones-Gotman

  • 1Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. jlundstrom@monell.org

Chemical Senses
|September 1, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Lying down reduces your sense of smell, especially for faint odors. This effect is linked to cognitive changes, not physical ones, impacting olfactory sensitivity.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Science
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Previous research indicated that a supine (lying down) body position decreases olfactory sensitivity compared to an upright position.
  • This study aimed to further investigate the extent and underlying mechanisms of this body position-dependent olfactory sensitivity change.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate the finding of decreased olfactory sensitivity in a supine position.
  • To explore the physiological and cognitive mechanisms responsible for body position-dependent olfactory performance changes.
  • To determine if olfactory imaging studies are affected by body position.

Main Methods:

  • Three experiments were conducted involving olfactory sensitivity tasks.
  • Experiment 1 replicated the supine vs. upright position effect.
  • Experiments 2 and 3 measured physiological variables, sniff measures, and cognitive skills during olfactory tasks in different body positions.

Main Results:

  • Olfactory performance was reduced in the supine position, particularly for perithreshold odors.
  • No correlation was found between olfactory performance shifts and physiological variables or sniff measures.
  • Cognitive performance, but not the ability to discriminate or identify suprathreshold odors, was impaired and slowed in the supine position.

Conclusions:

  • Body position significantly impacts olfactory sensitivity, specifically for odors near the detection threshold.
  • The observed decline in olfactory sensitivity appears to be primarily mediated by cognitive factors, not physiological changes.
  • Findings suggest potential implications for the interpretation of results from olfactory imaging studies conducted in different body positions.