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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...
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...
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...
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination02:55

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who are...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
10:42

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

Mind over age--stereotype activation and olfactory function.

Stacie S Miller1, Amy R Gordon, Mats J Olsson

  • 1Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. smiller@monell.org

Chemical Senses
|November 3, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Priming elderly stereotypes did not affect olfactory function in older adults, despite impacting walking speed and memory recall. This suggests olfaction may be resistant to stereotype threat.

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Last Updated: May 17, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
10:42

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06:40

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

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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:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Olfactory deficits are common in the elderly.
  • Context and internal states, like stereotypes, can influence cognitive performance.
  • Previous research shows stereotype priming affects physical and memory tasks in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if priming the elderly stereotype affects olfactory functions in older adults.
  • To examine the impact of stereotype priming on odor sensitivity, discrimination, identification, intensity, pleasantness, familiarity, and reaction time.

Main Methods:

  • 76 older adult participants were exposed to an elderly stereotype priming manipulation.
  • Participants completed olfactory tasks (sensitivity, discrimination, identification, intensity, pleasantness, familiarity, reaction time).
  • Control measures included walking speed and word recall tasks to confirm priming effectiveness.

Main Results:

  • The stereotype priming effectively slowed walking speed and reduced word recall, confirming its efficacy.
  • However, olfactory performance across all tested tasks (sensitivity, discrimination, identification, etc.) remained unaffected.
  • No significant differences were observed in olfactory measures between primed and control conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory function in older adults appears resistant to subtle stereotype priming effects.
  • This contrasts with findings in other cognitive and motor domains, suggesting unique characteristics of the olfactory system.
  • Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying olfaction's resilience to stereotype threat.