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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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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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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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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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Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

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Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
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Cranial Nerves: Types Part I01:14

Cranial Nerves: Types Part I

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Cranial nerves are responsible for transmitting motor and sensory information between the brain and various parts of the body. There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves, with the first six being essential in sensory perception, motor control, and autonomic functions related to the head and neck.
Olfactory Nerve (Cranial Nerve I)
The olfactory nerve, or cranial nerve I, is unique as it is purely sensory and dedicated to the sense of smell. This nerve originates in the olfactory epithelium of the...
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Somatosensation01:33

Somatosensation

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 29, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
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A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

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Human olfactory lateralization requires trigeminal activation.

Ilona Croy1, Max Schulz2, Anna Blumrich2

  • 1University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Blå Stråket 5, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Neuroimage
|May 15, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Humans can lateralize odors, but not solely through smell. This ability involves enhanced activation of the trigeminal system, impacting olfactory processing and change detection.

Keywords:
AttentionLateralizationLocalizationMyelinatedOlfactionfMRI

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Author Spotlight: Exploring Olfactory Influences on Corticospinal Excitability - Insights and Innovations in Neurological Research
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Author Spotlight: Exploring Olfactory Influences on Corticospinal Excitability - Insights and Innovations in Neurological Research
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory perception
  • Sensory processing

Background:

  • Rats exhibit olfactory lateralization, linked to orbitofrontal cortex function.
  • Human olfactory lateralization is poorly understood, with most unable to differentiate nostril input.
  • Individual differences in olfactory lateralization exist, suggesting underlying neural variations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether humans can lateralize odors and identify the neural mechanisms involved.
  • To compare brain activation patterns between individuals who can and cannot lateralize odors.
  • To explore the role of the trigeminal system in human olfactory lateralization.

Main Methods:

  • Screening 152 individuals using an olfactory lateralization test.
  • Olfactory functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 15 "lateralizers" and 15 matched controls.
  • Exploratory study using an olfactory change detection paradigm.

Main Results:

  • Both groups showed similar activation in olfactory brain areas.
  • Lateralizers exhibited significantly enhanced activation in trigeminal processing areas (somatosensory cortex, intraparietal sulcus).
  • Lateralizers demonstrated faster orientation to olfactory changes and no suppression in the trigeminal principal sensory nucleus.

Conclusions:

  • Human olfactory lateralization is not solely based on olfactory input.
  • The trigeminal system plays a crucial role, with higher activation in individuals who can lateralize odors.
  • Individual differences in trigeminal system recruitment contribute to olfactory lateralization ability in humans.