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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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Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

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The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
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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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Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

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Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
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Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

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The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at...
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Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

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The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals
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Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals

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Olfaction, navigation, and the origin of isocortex.

Francisco Aboitiz1, Juan F Montiel2

  • 1Departamento de Psiquiatría, Escuela de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago, Chile.

Frontiers in Neuroscience
|November 19, 2015
PubMed
Summary

The mammalian isocortex, a unique brain structure, likely evolved from olfactory-driven behaviors and sensory development. This expansion in the dorsal pallium facilitated navigation and integrated various sensory inputs.

Keywords:
hippocampusisocortical evolutionolfactionplasticity

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 30, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Mammalian and avian brains share microcircuit similarities despite gross morphological differences.
  • The mammalian isocortex is a unique six-layered structure, distinct from the dorsal ventricular ridge in birds and reptiles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain the evolutionary emergence of the mammalian isocortex.
  • To propose a hypothesis linking isocortex origin to behavioral and sensory adaptations.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of brain structures in amniotes.
  • Hypothesizing evolutionary pressures driving dorsal pallium expansion.

Main Results:

  • The mammalian isocortex's origin is proposed to be driven by olfactory-guided goal-directed and navigation behaviors.
  • Increasing sensory development created selective pressure for dorsal pallium expansion.
  • The dorsal pallium acted as an interface for olfactory-hippocampal networks, integrating somatosensory information for navigation.

Conclusions:

  • The mammalian isocortex evolved as a unique phenotype in amniotes.
  • Behavioral adaptations, particularly those involving olfaction and navigation, were key drivers.
  • Subsequent recruitment of visual and auditory inputs led to multimodal associative networks.