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Related Concept Videos

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...
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 8, 2026

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
04:47

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants

Published on: September 18, 2018

A novel multicomponent stimulus device for use in olfactory experiments.

Shannon B Olsson1, Linda S Kuebler, Daniel Veit

  • 1Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoell Strasse 8, Jena, Germany. solsson@ice.mpg.de

Journal of Neuroscience Methods
|October 12, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel system for presenting complex odor blends in olfactory studies. This device precisely controls multiple odorants

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Science
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Olfactory research is advancing from single odorants to complex mixtures.
  • Presenting odor blends requires precise control over timing, homogeneity, and component concentrations.
  • Existing methods face challenges in delivering diverse volatile compounds as unified stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a novel multicomponent stimulus system for olfactory experiments.
  • To enable the controlled presentation of complex volatile mixtures.
  • To facilitate the study of olfactory processing of odor blends across various animal taxa.

Main Methods:

  • A novel system capable of presenting up to 8 odors simultaneously or sequentially.
  • Odor separation to minimize interactions, with stimulation from saturated headspace.
  • Utilizing photoionization detectors and solid phase microextraction for measurements.
  • Controlling component concentrations via flow rate regulation based on vapor pressures.

Main Results:

  • The system successfully presented stimuli as cohesive blends or single components at frequencies up to 10Hz.
  • Demonstrated accurate control over stimulus concentrations and timing without leakage or contamination.
  • Equilibrated component concentrations by regulating flow rates according to partial vapor pressures.

Conclusions:

  • The developed system offers a unique method for presenting complex volatile mixtures in olfactory research.
  • Provides accurate spatiotemporal control of odor intensities for diverse animal studies.
  • Advances the capability to investigate the perception of complex odor blends.