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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Experience-Dependent Remodeling of Juvenile Brain Olfactory Sensory Neuron Synaptic Connectivity in an Early-Life Critical Period
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Increased olfactory bulb volume and olfactory function in early blind subjects.

Philippe Rombaux1, Caroline Huart, Anne G De Volder

  • 1Université Catholique de Louvain, Institute of Neurosciences, Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, Brussels, Belgium. philippe.rombaux@uclouvain.be

Neuroreport
|October 1, 2010
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Summary

Early blind individuals exhibit enhanced olfactory function and significantly larger olfactory bulb (OB) volumes. This suggests OB plasticity may compensate for vision loss, improving smell perception.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Perception
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Olfactory bulb (OB) volume correlates with olfactory function.
  • Investigating sensory compensation mechanisms in blindness is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare olfactory function and OB volume in early blind (EB) subjects versus controls.
  • To explore potential OB plasticity as a compensatory mechanism for visual deprivation.

Main Methods:

  • Psychophysical testing assessed olfactory performance (odor discrimination, odor identification).
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) quantified olfactory bulb volumes.
  • Statistical analysis compared EB subjects and sighted controls.

Main Results:

  • EB subjects demonstrated significantly higher olfactory function scores.
  • Mean right, left, and total OB volumes were significantly greater in EB subjects (140.89 mm³) compared to controls (106.60 mm³).
  • Significant differences in OB volume between EB and control groups were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Early blindness is associated with enhanced olfactory abilities.
  • Increased olfactory bulb volume in EB individuals suggests structural plasticity.
  • OB plasticity is a likely compensatory mechanism for visual impairment, enhancing olfactory perception.