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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.
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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
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Odorant concentration differentiator for intermittent olfactory signals.

Terufumi Fujiwara1, Tomoki Kazawa2, Takeshi Sakurai2

  • 1Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|December 16, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Animals use intermittent olfactory signals to find food and mates. This study shows silkmoth projection neurons detect concentration changes, not absolute levels, by adapting to repeated stimuli.

Keywords:
adaptationinsectolfactionsensory intensity

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory System Research
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Animals must process sensory signals for adaptive behaviors.
  • Olfactory signals, like odor identity and concentration, are key for locating resources.
  • Understanding neuronal responses to intermittent odor stimulation is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate neuronal representation of odorant concentration under intermittent stimulation.
  • Utilize the silkmoth pheromone system as a model for olfaction.
  • Determine how antennal lobe projection neurons encode concentration changes.

Main Methods:

  • Studied silkmoth (Bombyx mori) pheromone processing.
  • Applied intermittent odorant stimuli within the natural concentration range.
  • Recorded responses of antennal lobe projection neurons (PNs).
  • Utilized simulations to confirm findings.

Main Results:

  • PNs initially showed concentration-dependent responses.
  • PN response amplitudes adapted to constant concentration intermittent stimuli.
  • PNs emphasized changes in odorant concentration over absolute levels.
  • Long-lasting inhibition in the antennal lobe underlies this response transformation.

Conclusions:

  • The primary olfactory center acts as a concentration differentiator.
  • This mechanism efficiently detects concentration changes for improved orientation.
  • Adaptation enhances odor source localization over a wide concentration range.