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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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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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Related Experiment Video

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Training Dogs for Awake, Unrestrained Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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How Ambient Environment Influences Olfactory Orientation in Search and Rescue Dogs.

Judy Jinn1, Erin G Connor2, Lucia F Jacobs1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.

Chemical Senses
|September 17, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Search and rescue dogs successfully located hidden humans by adjusting their search strategy based on weather conditions. Cooler, humid weather prompted closer searching, while dogs moved slower with noses to the ground when farther from the scent trail.

Keywords:
caninecognitionmeteorologysensory ecologyspatial navigation

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Area of Science:

  • Animal behavior
  • Olfactory orientation
  • Environmental science

Background:

  • Animals use airborne odor plumes for navigation, influenced by meteorological variables like temperature, humidity, and wind.
  • Laboratory studies struggle to replicate natural meteorological conditions, limiting research on animal olfactory orientation strategies.
  • Understanding how animals adapt their search behavior to environmental factors is crucial for ecological and applied studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the olfactory orientation behaviors of dogs under various meteorological conditions.
  • To investigate how environmental factors affect canine search strategies for human scent trails.
  • To establish a foundation for future research on olfactory orientation using dogs.

Main Methods:

  • Trained search and rescue dogs were used to locate a hidden human subject (1-3 hour old trail) in a natural landscape.
  • Search performance and behavior (speed, head position) were recorded under a range of meteorological conditions.
  • The proximity of the dogs' search path to the experimental trail was analyzed in relation to environmental variables.

Main Results:

  • Dogs achieved a high success rate (93%) in locating the human target 800m away.
  • Cooler and more humid conditions significantly influenced dogs to search closer to the scent trail.
  • Dogs adjusted their speed and head position based on their distance from the trail, with slower, ground-level searches when farther away.

Conclusions:

  • Meteorological conditions, specifically air temperature and humidity, significantly impact canine olfactory search strategies.
  • Dogs exhibit adaptive search behaviors, modifying speed and sensory focus (head position) in response to environmental cues and proximity to the scent source.
  • This study highlights the adaptability of canine olfaction and provides a basis for further research into mammalian olfactory orientation and its environmental dependencies.