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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

An Objective and Reproducible Test of Olfactory Learning and Discrimination in Mice

An Objective and Reproducible Test of Olfactory Learning and Discrimination in Mice

Published on: March 22, 2018

Can we smell without an olfactory bulb?

Philippe Rombaux¹, André Mouraux, Bernard Bertrand

¹Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium. philippe.rombaux@orlo.ucl.ac.be

American Journal of Rhinology

|November 15, 2007

Summary

Even without a detectable olfactory bulb (OB) via MRI, individuals can retain some olfactory function. This finding challenges the typical association between OB absence and anosmia, suggesting alternative neural pathways for smell.

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An Objective and Reproducible Test of Olfactory Learning and Discrimination in Mice

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Whole Mount Labeling of Cilia in the Main Olfactory System of Mice

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Published on: December 27, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Olfactory Research

Background:

The olfactory bulb (OB) is crucial for smell perception.
Its absence is typically linked to complete smell loss (anosmia).

Observation:

A patient presented with subnormal olfactory function.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) failed to detect an olfactory bulb in this patient.

Findings:

Olfactory tests revealed hyposmia (reduced smell) for orthonasal stimuli.
Retronasal smell function was decreased but not absent.
Chemosensory event-related potentials confirmed neural responses to olfactory and trigeminal stimuli.

Implications:

Olfactory function can persist even when the olfactory bulb is undetectable by MRI.
This suggests potential alternative neural pathways for olfactory processing.
Challenges the established understanding of OB necessity for smell perception.