Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

Taste Buds and Receptors

4.5K
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
4.5K
The Physiology of Taste01:24

The Physiology of Taste

7.0K
The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the...
7.0K
Gustation01:43

Gustation

51.7K
Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.
51.7K
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

662
Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex.
662
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

47.9K
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...
47.9K
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

12.1K
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...
12.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Olfactory assessment in treatment and survivor groups of pediatric solid malignancies.

Discover oncology·2026
Same author

Effect of Stimulus Duration on the Electrogustometric Threshold.

World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery·2026
Same author

Response to Comments of Pellegrino et al.

Chemical senses·2026
Same author

Percentile scores for the revised University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test for 16,972 individuals 60 years of age and older.

NPJ Parkinson's disease·2025
Same author

Olfactory function is longitudinally associated with semantic fluency in Parkinson's disease: a cohort study.

Journal of neurology·2025
Same author

Odors as cognitive constructs: history of odor classification and attempts to map odor percepts to physical and chemical parameters.

Chemical senses·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold TDT Test
08:52

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold TDT Test

Published on: April 21, 2021

5.3K

Psychophysical testing of smell and taste function.

Richard L Doty1

  • 1Smell and Taste Center and Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|October 13, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Quantitative testing for smell and taste disorders is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment assessment. This chapter details methods for measuring these underappreciated senses, providing essential normative data.

Keywords:
AnosmiaOdor identificationOlfactionPsychophysicsSmellTasteThreshold

More Related Videos

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
07:10

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Published on: August 17, 2018

17.0K
Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
09:17

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults

Published on: July 16, 2016

18.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold TDT Test
08:52

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold TDT Test

Published on: April 21, 2021

5.3K
Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
07:10

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Published on: August 17, 2018

17.0K
Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
09:17

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults

Published on: July 16, 2016

18.1K

Area of Science:

  • Chemosensation
  • Neuroscience
  • Otorhinolaryngology

Background:

  • Smell and taste disorders are common yet underdiagnosed, affecting quality of life and safety.
  • These chemosensory dysfunctions can indicate serious health issues like neurodegenerative diseases and increased mortality risk.
  • Current clinical evaluation is often non-quantitative, hindering accurate diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the importance of quantitative assessment for smell and taste disorders.
  • To provide essential information on measuring olfactory and gustatory function.
  • To present normative data for clinical smell and taste tests.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established clinical methodologies for assessing smell and taste.
  • Presentation of quantitative testing procedures.
  • Compilation of normative data stratified by age and sex.

Main Results:

  • Detailed descriptions of various smell and taste measurement techniques.
  • Availability of normative data to interpret test results accurately.
  • Establishment of benchmarks for evaluating chemosensory function.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate, quantitative testing is vital for diagnosing smell and taste disorders.
  • Normative data are essential for interpreting clinical findings and assessing dysfunction severity.
  • Standardized testing protocols improve patient care and diagnostic accuracy for chemosensory deficits.