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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...
The Physiology of Taste01:24

The Physiology of Taste

The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the diffusion of...
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...
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex. This...
Gustation01:43

Gustation

Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

Physicochemical influence on odor hedonics: Where does it occur first?

Pauline Joussain1, Amandine Chakirian, Florence Kermen

  • 1Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon; UniversitĂ© de Lyon; Lyon, France.

Communicative & Integrative Biology
|November 3, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Odor molecule structure significantly influences perceived pleasantness, particularly in children and seniors lacking strong smell knowledge. This suggests an innate, receptor-level basis for odor hedonic valence.

Keywords:
animalhedonicshumansmoleculeolfactionolfactory receptorsphysicochemical properties

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Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility

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

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility
07:49

Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility

Published on: July 27, 2017

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

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants

Published on: September 18, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory Science
  • Chemosensation

Background:

  • Human olfactory pleasantness is influenced by semantic knowledge and physicochemical properties of odorants.
  • Age-related differences in odor perception exist, with children and seniors showing heightened sensitivity to molecular properties over semantic meaning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the predictive power of odorant structure on odor pleasantness.
  • To explore the potential role of receptor-level mechanisms in odor hedonic valence.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of human olfactory pleasantness data.
  • Conducting an animal study to assess odorant structure-odor pleasantness relationships.
  • Investigating potential receptor-level influences on odor perception.

Main Results:

  • Odorant molecular structure was confirmed as a significant predictor of odor pleasantness.
  • Findings suggest that the influence of odorant structure on pleasantness may be hardwired at the olfactory receptor level.

Conclusions:

  • The physicochemical properties of odorants play a crucial role in determining odor pleasantness, independent of semantic knowledge.
  • Evidence supports an innate, receptor-mediated basis for odor hedonic valence, particularly evident in specific age groups.