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Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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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...
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Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

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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.
The olfactory...
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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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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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Depression: Overview01:18

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Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

An Olfactory Preference Test for Measuring Olfactory Hedonic Biases in Mouse Models of Depression
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An Olfactory Preference Test for Measuring Olfactory Hedonic Biases in Mouse Models of Depression

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Olfaction as a marker for depression in humans.

Ilona Croy1, Anja Symmank2, Julia Schellong2

  • 1University of Dresden Medical School, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Fetscherstreet 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Blå Stråket 5, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|January 22, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Olfactory function, or sense of smell, is a marker for depression. Successful antidepressant treatment normalized olfactory function in depressed women, suggesting smell is a reliable indicator of depression.

Keywords:
DepressionErPMoodOlfactionSmellfMRI

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Sensory Science

Background:

  • Animal studies indicate a link between olfactory dysfunction and depressive behaviors.
  • This study investigates olfactory function as a potential biomarker for depression in humans.
  • It hypothesizes that impaired olfaction in depression improves with effective antidepressant treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if olfactory function serves as a marker for depression in humans.
  • To assess olfactory function changes in depressed patients before and after treatment.
  • To compare olfactory function between depressed patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Compared 27 female patients with depression to 28 healthy women.
  • Assessed olfactory function using threshold, discrimination, and identification tests.
  • Utilized chemosensory event-related potentials and olfactory functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Main Results:

  • Depressed patients showed reduced olfactory discrimination and prolonged event-related potential latencies.
  • Reduced activation in olfactory brain regions (thalamus, insula, orbitofrontal cortex) was observed.
  • Significant improvements in all olfactory parameters were noted post-treatment, eliminating group differences.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory function is a valid marker for depression.
  • Treatment for depression leads to a normalization of olfactory function.
  • Findings are specific to a sample of depressed women.