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Related Concept Videos

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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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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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
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Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

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Global study of variability in olfactory sensitivity.

Anna Oleszkiewicz1, Rafieh Alizadeh2, Aytug Altundag3

  • 1Smell and Taste Clinic.

Behavioral Neuroscience
|October 1, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human olfactory sensitivity varies significantly across different geographical locations and environments. Environmental factors, not just individual differences, play a crucial role in shaping smell perception and odor detection thresholds.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Science
  • Cross-cultural Psychology

Background:

  • Human olfactory sensitivity is influenced by individual factors like genetics, age, sex, and health.
  • Limited research exists on how cultural and geographical factors affect olfactory sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the variability of olfactory sensitivity across different geographical locations and environments.
  • To assess the impact of location and environment on olfactory threshold and suprathreshold odor perception.

Main Methods:

  • Study 1: Olfactory threshold testing in 802 subjects across 11 laboratories on 4 continents using custom Sniffin' Sticks tests (eucalyptol, phenylethanol).
  • Study 2: Comparison of olfactory sensitivity and perception in Chinese and Indian populations (native and in Germany) using phenylethanol and eucalyptol.

Main Results:

  • Significant variability in olfactory sensitivity was observed as a function of geographical location.
  • Environmental factors were identified as important contributors to differences in olfactory sensitivity and odor perception.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory sensitivity is influenced by geographical location and environmental factors, extending beyond individual differences.
  • Further research is needed to identify specific environmental factors and understand the relationship between olfactory sensitivity and suprathreshold perception.