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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...

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

Odor memory: Review and analysis.

R S Herz¹, T Engen

¹Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St., 19104-3308, Philadelphia, PA, herz@pobox.upenn.edu.

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

|November 12, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores olfactory memory, comparing it to visual-verbal memory. While distinct characteristics exist, more research is needed to confirm olfactory memory as a separate cognitive system.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Sensory Memory Research
Olfactory System Studies

Background:

Olfactory memory research is a growing field within cognitive science.
Understanding the unique properties of odor memory is crucial for a comprehensive model of human memory.
Existing literature often compares olfactory memory to other sensory modalities, particularly visual-verbal memory.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically review the cognitive literature on olfactory memory.
To identify similarities and differences between odor memory and visual-verbal memory.
To analyze olfactory memory through the lens of a multiple memory systems approach to determine its status as a distinct memory system.

Main Methods:

Systematic literature review of cognitive studies on olfactory memory.
Comparative analysis of odor memory characteristics against visual-verbal memory.
Application of criteria from a multiple memory systems framework.

Main Results:

Olfactory memory exhibits several distinguishing characteristics compared to visual-verbal memory.
The current data suggest significant differences, but not yet conclusive evidence for a separate system.
Further investigation is required to definitively establish olfactory memory as a unique system.

Conclusions:

Olfactory memory possesses unique features that warrant further investigation.
More empirical data are needed to support the hypothesis of olfactory memory as a distinct memory system.
Proposed future research methods aim to resolve this question and integrate olfaction into broader cognitive understanding.