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From molecule to mind: an integrative perspective on odor intensity
Joel D Mainland1, Johan N Lundström2, Johannes Reisert3
1Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Trends in Neurosciences
|June 22, 2014
Summary
Understanding how odorant concentration becomes perceived smell intensity is a key challenge in olfactory neuroscience. This research reviews current models of olfactory processing to guide future studies on smell perception.
Area of Science:
- Systems neuroscience
- Olfactory processing
- Sensory perception
Background:
- Mapping physical stimulus properties to perception is fundamental.
- In vision and audition, physical features like wavelength and frequency map to color and pitch.
- The olfactory system's translation of odorant concentration to perceived intensity remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current models of olfactory processing related to odorant concentration.
- To identify neural mechanisms underlying the perception of odor intensity.
- To highlight future research directions in olfactory coding.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing models in olfactory processing.
- Analysis of neural responses at various processing levels.
- Synthesis of current understanding and identification of knowledge gaps.
Main Results:
- Multiple neural response patterns vary with odorant concentration across different processing stages.
- Several coding models have been proposed for olfactory processing.
- The precise neural basis for perceived odor intensity is still unclear.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to elucidate the neural coding of odorant concentration.
- Identifying the specific mechanisms translating concentration to intensity is crucial for understanding smell perception.
- This review provides a framework for future investigations into olfactory intensity coding.
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