Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

8.4K
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...
8.4K
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

44.3K
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...
44.3K
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

9.2K
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...
9.2K
Introduction to Special Senses01:26

Introduction to Special Senses

5.8K
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...
5.8K
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

289
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.
289
What is a Sensory System?01:31

What is a Sensory System?

93.3K
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.
93.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Stimulating and Recording Brain Signals in an Olfactory Context: Non-Canonical Brain Structures May Contribute to Olfactory Processing - A Case Series.

Brain topography·2026
Same author

Early life stress enhances the association between residential nature exposure and fasting blood glucose.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Effects of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on olfactory and trigeminal function in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Reference data for Bayesian adaptive QUEST-based taste recognition thresholds from pooled individual participant data.

Chemical senses·2026
Same author

Severity of Onion Tearing and Chemosensory Sensitivity: A Preliminary Investigation.

Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology·2026
Same author

Landscape efficiency frontiers for biodiversity, climate mitigation, and net economic value.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
08:36

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

Published on: April 11, 2025

206

Nature and human well-being: The olfactory pathway.

Gregory N Bratman1,2,3, Cecilia Bembibre4, Gretchen C Daily5,6,7

  • 1School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

Science Advances
|May 15, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Natural scents impact human well-being, influencing emotions, cognition, and health. Understanding these olfactory environments is crucial for environmental policy and planetary health.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Exploring Olfactory Influences on Corticospinal Excitability - Insights and Innovations in Neurological Research
06:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring Olfactory Influences on Corticospinal Excitability - Insights and Innovations in Neurological Research

Published on: January 19, 2024

1.0K
Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

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

Published on: April 23, 2019

7.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Constructing an Olfactometer for Rodent Olfactory Behavior Studies Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
08:36

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

Published on: April 11, 2025

206
Author Spotlight: Exploring Olfactory Influences on Corticospinal Excitability - Insights and Innovations in Neurological Research
06:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring Olfactory Influences on Corticospinal Excitability - Insights and Innovations in Neurological Research

Published on: January 19, 2024

1.0K
Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

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

Published on: April 23, 2019

7.1K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Sensory Science
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Atmospheric and ecological changes pose significant threats to human well-being.
  • Olfaction is a critical sensory pathway mediating human responses to environmental changes.
  • The sense of smell profoundly affects quality of life, emotions, cognition, and physiological health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the impact of natural odorants on human well-being.
  • To integrate olfactory pathways into environmental health frameworks.
  • To inform policy and land-use decisions concerning natural olfactory environments.

Main Methods:

  • Interdisciplinary review integrating health, social, and natural sciences.
  • Development of a conceptual framework for olfactory impacts on well-being.
  • Formulation of consensus statements on olfaction and the environment.

Main Results:

  • Olfactory environments significantly influence human well-being across multiple domains.
  • A framework was proposed to link natural olfactory stimuli to human health outcomes.
  • Four consensus statements provide guidance on olfaction and environmental interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Natural olfactory environments are integral to human well-being and planetary health.
  • The proposed framework aids in assessing policy impacts on olfactory resources.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the human-olfaction-environment connection.