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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

12.0K
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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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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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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Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

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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.
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Introduction to Special Senses01:26

Introduction to Special Senses

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Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive...
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What is a Sensory System?01:31

What is a Sensory System?

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Sensory systems detect stimuli—such as light and sound waves—and transduce them into neural signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. In addition to external stimuli detected by the senses, some sensory systems detect internal stimuli—such as the proprioceptors in muscles and tendons that send feedback about limb position.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
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Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: April 11, 2025

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Odors Can Serve as Landmarks in Human Wayfinding.

Kai Hamburger1, Markus Knauff1

  • 1Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Science, Justus Liebig University.

Cognitive Science
|November 20, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Humans can navigate environments using smell, a skill often underestimated. This study shows people can use odor cues as landmarks for effective wayfinding.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Environmental Psychology

Background:

  • Non-human animals effectively use olfactory cues for navigation.
  • Human capacity for olfactory-based wayfinding is under-researched.
  • Existing research provides limited insight into humans' use of smell for navigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the possibility of using olfactory cues as landmarks in human wayfinding.
  • To empirically test humans' ability to navigate environments using smell.
  • To bridge the research gap concerning olfactory navigation in humans.

Main Methods:

  • A piloting study with 40 subjects identified suitable olfactory materials.
  • A main experiment involved 24 subjects completing a wayfinding task.
Keywords:
Cognitive mapLandmarksOlfactionRecognitionSpatial cognitionWayfinding

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Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
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Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
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Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

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  • Twelve distinct odors were used as orientation cues during the experiment.

    • Main Results:

    • Participants demonstrated significant proficiency in odor-based wayfinding.
    • Human ability to navigate using olfactory cues is frequently underestimated.
    • Results challenge the notion that wayfinding is solely reliant on visual or spatial memory.

    Conclusions:

    • Humans can effectively utilize olfactory cues for navigation.
    • Olfactory landmarks can be integrated into cognitive maps for wayfinding.
    • This research suggests a more significant role for smell in human spatial cognition than previously thought.