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Related Concept Videos

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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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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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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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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Communication01:03

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Communication between two animals occurs when one animal transmits an information signal that causes a change in the animal that receives the information. Organisms communicate with one another in a host of different ways. Signals can be auditory, chemical, visual, tactile, or a combination of these. Communication is a critical behavioral adaptation that promotes survival, growth, and reproduction.
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Updated: Dec 23, 2025

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
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Human olfactory communication: current challenges and future prospects.

S Craig Roberts1, Jan Havlíček2, Benoist Schaal3

  • 1Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|April 21, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Western research on human smell often overlooks its importance due to participants being deodorized and desensitized (ODD). Expanding research beyond ODD individuals reveals the crucial role of olfactory communication in human interactions.

Keywords:
WEIRDchemical communicationperceptionpheromonesemiochemistrysmell

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Area of Science:

  • Human communication
  • Olfactory perception
  • Chemocommunication

Background:

  • Western scholars historically underestimated the sense of smell in human communication.
  • Research bias may stem from studying adults who are deodorized and desensitized (ODD) to odors.
  • Anthropological studies highlight the significance of odors in non-Western societies.

Discussion:

  • Evolutionary models explain odor production and perception in human chemocommunication.
  • Odors play roles in mother-infant bonding, mate selection, and conveying emotion or disease.
  • The replication crisis in psychology necessitates careful consideration of future research directions.

Key Insights:

  • Human olfactory communication is more complex than previously assumed in Western contexts.
  • The ODD (old, deodorized, desensitized) participant pool limits understanding of olfactory perception.
  • Interdisciplinary approaches are vital for a comprehensive view of chemocommunication.

Outlook:

  • Future research should expand beyond ODD populations to capture a broader understanding of olfactory communication.
  • Developing interdisciplinary insights will refine our comprehension of human chemical signaling.
  • Addressing research limitations is key to advancing the field of human chemocommunication.