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Olfaction

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 Structure

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: May 23, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

Objective assessment of olfactory function using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Adolfo Toledano¹, Susana Borromeo, Guillermo Luna

¹Consulta de Olfato, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. atoledano@fhalcorcon.es

Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola

|April 11, 2012

Summary

This study presents a novel device for automated olfactory stimulation during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The system effectively activates key olfactory and emotional brain regions, demonstrating its utility in neuroimaging research.

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Area of Science:

Neuroimaging
Olfactory Neuroscience
Medical Device Technology

Background:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) enables non-invasive brain activity measurement.
Automated and synchronized olfactory stimulation is crucial for fMRI studies of smell perception.
Existing methods for olfactory stimulation in fMRI can be limited in control and synchronization.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce and evaluate a novel device for generating automated olfactory stimuli.
To demonstrate the device's suitability for integration with fMRI acquisition systems.
To validate the device's capability in eliciting measurable brain responses in olfactory pathways.

Main Methods:

A custom-designed olfactometer system was developed for precise control of odorant delivery.
The system synchronizes odorant presentation onset with MRI scanner trigger signals.
Stimulation involved programmed sequences with selected odorants (butanol, mint, coffee) presented in 15-second blocks with 2-second odorant events.

Main Results:

The device successfully stimulated olfactory processing areas in the brain.
Significant olfactory activity was detected in the olfactory bulb.
Activation was also observed in the entorhinal cortex, amygdala, and temporo-parietal cortex, particularly in emotion-related regions.

Conclusions:

The developed device is effective for automated olfactory stimulation in fMRI.
The system demonstrates robust synchronization capabilities with fMRI equipment.
This technology facilitates advanced research into the neural basis of olfaction and emotion.