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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
10:42

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

Behavioral state-dependent changes in the information processing mode in the olfactory system.

Yusuke Tsuno1, Kensaku Mori

  • 1Department of Physiology; Graduate School of Medicine; University of Tokyo; Tokyo, Japan.

Communicative & Integrative Biology
|September 2, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Brain activity changes with behavioral state. This review shows the olfactory system alters information processing during sleep or anesthesia, optimizing neural circuits for different states.

Keywords:
behavioral statecholinergic inputdendrodendritic synapsesolfactory bulbolfactory cortexslow-wave sleep

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

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Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
10:42

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Published on: August 18, 2014

Combining a Breath-Synchronized Olfactometer with Brain Simulation to Study the Impact of Odors on Corticospinal Excitability and Effective Connectivity
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Combining a Breath-Synchronized Olfactometer with Brain Simulation to Study the Impact of Odors on Corticospinal Excitability and Effective Connectivity

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An Objective and Reproducible Test of Olfactory Learning and Discrimination in Mice
09:33

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

Published on: March 22, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Systems Biology
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • Behavioral states (e.g., sleep, wakefulness) influence brain information processing.
  • The hippocampus and neocortex exhibit coordinated changes in information processing modes.
  • The central olfactory system's response to behavioral state changes is an active area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding behavioral state-dependent information processing in the central olfactory system.
  • To highlight how olfactory processing adapts to different behavioral states.
  • To synthesize findings on neural circuit function optimization within the olfactory system.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on olfactory system neurophysiology.
  • Analysis of studies examining synaptic inhibition and oscillatory activity in the olfactory bulb.
  • Examination of sensory input gating in the olfactory cortex.

Main Results:

  • Olfactory cortex demonstrates state-dependent gating of incoming sensory information.
  • Enhanced granule-to-mitral cell synaptic inhibition observed in the olfactory bulb during slow-wave sleep or anesthesia.
  • Decreased frequency of synchronized oscillatory activity in olfactory bulb output neurons during these states.

Conclusions:

  • The olfactory system dynamically adjusts its information processing mode based on behavioral state.
  • These adaptations ensure optimal functioning of olfactory neural circuits across different behavioral states.
  • Understanding these state-dependent changes is crucial for comprehending olfactory perception and brain function.