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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.
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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.
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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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Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive functions.

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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Quadruple Immunostaining of the Olfactory Bulb for Visualization of Olfactory Sensory Axon Molecular Identity Codes

Quadruple Immunostaining of the Olfactory Bulb for Visualization of Olfactory Sensory Axon Molecular Identity Codes

Published on: June 5, 2017

Multiple perceptible signals from a single olfactory glomerulus.

Matthew Smear¹, Admir Resulaj, Jingji Zhang

¹Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA.

Nature Neuroscience

|September 24, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Mice can perceive odors by activating just one glomerulus in the olfactory system. This single glomerulus transmits odor identity, intensity, and timing, enabling efficient odor detection.

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Last Updated: May 7, 2026

Quadruple Immunostaining of the Olfactory Bulb for Visualization of Olfactory Sensory Axon Molecular Identity Codes

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Published on: June 5, 2017

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Multi-unit Recording Methods to Characterize Neural Activity in the Locust (Schistocerca Americana) Olfactory Circuits

Multi-unit Recording Methods to Characterize Neural Activity in the Locust (Schistocerca Americana) Olfactory Circuits

Published on: January 25, 2013

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Olfactory System Research
Sensory Perception

Background:

Glomeruli are key functional units within the mammalian olfactory system.
Each glomerulus receives input from olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) expressing a single odorant receptor gene.
The contribution of individual glomeruli to overall odor perception remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of single glomeruli in odor perception.
To determine if individual glomeruli can convey specific odor information.
To explore the coding capabilities of single glomeruli in behaving mice.

Main Methods:

Utilized optogenetics to selectively activate single, genetically identified glomeruli in mice.
Observed behavioral responses of mice to single-glomerulus stimulation.
Tested perception under varying odor backgrounds and input parameters.

Main Results:

Mice successfully perceived the artificial stimulation of a single glomerulus.
Single-glomerulus stimulation was detectable even against a strong odor background.
Mice discriminated varying input intensities and temporal patterns delivered to a single glomerulus.

Conclusions:

Each glomerulus can independently transmit olfactory information, including odor identity, intensity, and temporal coding.
Multiple coding strategies within a single glomerulus enhance the olfactory system's ability to process complex odor information.
This suggests a sophisticated coding mechanism within the olfactory bulb for efficient odor source localization and identification.