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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...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
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...
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

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

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants

Published on: September 18, 2018

Cortical processing of odor objects.

Donald A Wilson1, Regina M Sullivan

  • 1Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. donald.wilson@nyumc.org

Neuron
|November 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The olfactory cortex processes odor information, transforming neural patterns into recognizable odor objects. This research explores how the piriform cortex contributes to odor recognition, separation, and completion for perception.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory System Research
  • Sensory Perception

Background:

  • Natural odors are complex mixtures analyzed by peripheral receptors.
  • This analysis generates spatiotemporal neural patterns in the olfactory bulb.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the olfactory cortex's role in processing odor-evoked neural patterns.
  • To explain how these processes contribute to odor perception.
  • To describe the neural basis of odor object creation by the olfactory cortex.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent findings on olfactory cortex neural architecture.
  • Analysis of olfactory cortex physiology.
  • Examination of olfactory cortex plasticity.

Main Results:

  • The olfactory cortex recognizes, separates, and completes odor-evoked patterns.
  • The piriform cortex, a paleocortical structure, is key to this processing.
  • This processing leads to the formation of distinct odor objects.

Conclusions:

  • The olfactory cortex is crucial for transforming complex odor signals into coherent perceptions.
  • Understanding the piriform cortex's function advances knowledge of odor object representation.
  • Neural plasticity in the olfactory cortex supports adaptive odor recognition.