Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

40.5K
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...
40.5K
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

13.1K
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...
13.1K
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

1.7K
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
1.7K
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

10.5K
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...
10.5K
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

2.2K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
2.2K
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.6K
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
1.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reactivation during sleep segregates the neural representations of episodic memories.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

MR KLEAN: a Generalized Acquisition-agnostic LLR k-Space Denoising Method for High-dimensional Imaging.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Correction to: Leveraging multi-echo EPI to enhance BOLD sensitivity in task-based olfactory fMRI.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2025
Same author

Leveraging multi-echo EPI to enhance BOLD sensitivity in task-based olfactory fMRI.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2025
Same author

Predictive coding in the human olfactory system.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2025
Same author

Characterizing Olfactory Brain Responses in Young Infants.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2025
Same journal

Preface.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

Mindfulness and meditation: Promoting emotional and cognitive health.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

Cognitive stimulation enhancing memory and mental function.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

The science behind non-pharmacological interventions.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

Technology-assisted interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

Ethical consideration in non-pharmacological treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Progress in brain research·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
10:42

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

8.2K

Olfactory insights into sleep-dependent learning and memory.

Laura K Shanahan1, Jay A Gottfried1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.

Progress in Brain Research
|April 29, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Smell influences sleep and memory. Research shows odors experienced while awake can alter brain activity during sleep, enhancing memory consolidation and even enabling learning during sleep.

Keywords:
associative learningcognitionemotionhuman brainmemory reactivationolfactionolfactory bulbolfactory systempiriform cortexsleep

More Related Videos

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

10.8K
Drosophila Adult Olfactory Shock Learning
09:48

Drosophila Adult Olfactory Shock Learning

Published on: August 7, 2014

28.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
10:42

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

8.2K
Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

10.8K
Drosophila Adult Olfactory Shock Learning
09:48

Drosophila Adult Olfactory Shock Learning

Published on: August 7, 2014

28.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Research
  • Olfactory System Function

Background:

  • Sleep is vital for memory consolidation, strengthening labile memories.
  • The olfactory system's direct connections to memory centers suggest a unique role for odors during sleep.
  • Previous assumptions about the sleeping brain's lack of response to odors are being challenged.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on how odors modulate memory during sleep.
  • To highlight the potential of olfactory stimuli in sleep-based learning and memory modification.
  • To underscore the emergence of olfactory-sleep research.

Main Methods:

  • Review of studies in animal and human models.
  • Analysis of olfactory cortical responses during sleep-like states.
  • Examination of odor cue delivery during sleep for memory enhancement and fear extinction.

Main Results:

  • Odor stimuli during waking alter olfactory responses in sleep-like states.
  • Odor cues delivered during sleep enhance declarative memory and reduce fear memory.
  • Olfactory associative learning is achievable entirely during sleep.

Conclusions:

  • Odors can significantly impact the sleeping brain, challenging prior assumptions.
  • Olfactory modulation of sleep offers new avenues for understanding memory consolidation.
  • This research area has broad implications for sleep, learning, memory, and olfactory neuroscience.