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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.
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Olfaction01:25

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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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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: Jul 15, 2025

Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals
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Cognitive maps: Constructing a route with your snout.

Mark A Orloff1, Erie D Boorman2

  • 1Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, USA.

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|September 26, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The human brain can create cognitive maps using smell, not just sight. This research reveals how olfactory cues contribute to spatial navigation and understanding our environment.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Sensory Perception

Background:

  • Humans typically rely on visual information to build cognitive maps of their surroundings.
  • Cognitive maps are internal representations of the environment that aid in navigation and understanding spatial relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether the human brain can utilize olfactory cues for the formation and utilization of cognitive maps.
  • To explore the role of non-visual sensory information in spatial cognition.

Main Methods:

  • The study likely involved experiments assessing navigation and spatial memory tasks.
  • Participants' performance was analyzed based on the introduction of olfactory stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that olfactory cues can indeed be integrated into cognitive map formation.
  • The brain demonstrates the capacity to use smell for spatial representation and navigation.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory information plays a significant role in constructing and using cognitive maps, expanding our understanding of human spatial cognition.
  • This finding challenges the traditional view of vision as the sole basis for cognitive mapping.