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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...
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.
Somatosensation01:33

Somatosensation

The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System01:11

Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System

The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...

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Related Experiment Video

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Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies
08:36

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies

Published on: April 11, 2025

Chemosensory convergence on primary olfactory cortex.

Joost X Maier1, Matt Wachowiak, Donald B Katz

  • 1Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Department of Psychology, Program in Neuroscience, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, USA. joost.maier@gmail.com

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|December 1, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Taste influences smell processing in the brain's piriform cortex. This study reveals how gustatory input shapes olfactory perception, crucial for food preference.

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Combining a Breath-Synchronized Olfactometer with Brain Simulation to Study the Impact of Odors on Corticospinal Excitability and Effective Connectivity

Published on: January 19, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Systems Biology
  • Olfactory and Gustatory Neuroscience

Background:

  • Food perception and preference depend on integrating taste and olfactory information.
  • Previous research indicates the taste system significantly impacts odor processing.
  • The neural mechanisms underlying taste's influence on smell remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that gustatory influences on olfactory processing occur in the primary olfactory cortex.
  • To identify the neural basis for taste modulation of odor perception.

Main Methods:

  • Single-neuron recordings were performed in the posterior olfactory (piriform) cortex (pPC) of awake rats.
  • Rats were presented with basic taste solutions applied directly to the tongue.
  • Taste and olfactory responses were analyzed, with specific interventions like gustatory/olfactory epithelium blockade and deciliation.

Main Results:

  • A substantial proportion of pPC neurons exhibited selective responses to taste stimuli.
  • These gustatory responses were diminished by blocking the gustatory epithelium but not the olfactory epithelium.
  • Olfactory responses in the same area were reduced by nasal deciliation and linked to respiration, unlike taste responses.

Conclusions:

  • The posterior olfactory (piriform) cortex is identified as a key neural site where gustatory information influences olfactory processing.
  • These findings provide critical insights into the neural underpinnings of taste-odor integration.
  • This integration is fundamental for shaping food perception and the formation of food preferences.