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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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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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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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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 17, 2026

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
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Changes in olfactory bulb volume following lateralized olfactory training.

S Negoias1,2, K Pietsch3, T Hummel3

  • 1Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Technical University Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany. simonanegoias@yahoo.com.

Brain Imaging and Behavior
|July 23, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Olfactory training significantly increased olfactory bulb volume in healthy individuals, suggesting a top-down processing influence. This bilateral change occurred regardless of training duration or participant demographics.

Keywords:
OlfactionOlfactory bulbPlasticityRegenerationTraining

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Science
  • Olfactory Research

Background:

  • Olfactory function is modified by repeated odor exposure, making olfactory training a key component in treating smell dysfunction (hyposmia).
  • Olfactory bulb (OB) volume alterations are observed in conditions linked to olfactory dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate olfactory bulb volume changes in healthy individuals undergoing lateralized olfactory training.
  • To determine the impact of olfactory training on OB volume and olfactory perception.

Main Methods:

  • 97 healthy participants (mean age 23.74 years) underwent 4 months of lateralized olfactory training with 4 distinct odors.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure OB volume before and after training.
  • Participants completed lateralized odor threshold and identification tests ('Sniffin' Sticks').

Main Results:

  • A significant increase in olfactory bulb volume (11.3% and 13.1%) was observed bilaterally after training.
  • No significant differences in OB volume changes were found based on sex, training duration/frequency, or age.
  • While odor identification remained unchanged, odor thresholds for PEA (phenethylamine) worsened post-training.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory training leads to a bilateral increase in olfactory bulb volume in humans.
  • These findings suggest that olfactory training may involve top-down processing mechanisms.
  • The study provides novel insights into the neuroplasticity of the human olfactory system in response to training.