Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Neural Regulation

Neural Regulation

Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.

Olfaction

Olfaction

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...

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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...

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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...

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Temporal assessment of behavior in Parkinson's visual hallucinations via a multidimensional analysis strategy.

Signal transduction and targeted therapy·2026

Same author

Dynamic Reconfiguration of Cognitive Networks and Recovery From Microlesion Effects in Parkinson's Disease: Insights From a Longitudinal fNIRS Study.

CNS neuroscience & therapeutics·2026

Same author

Nonlinear association of serum uric acid and C-peptide with arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes: a real-world study.

Frontiers in endocrinology·2026

Same author

Chromosome-level genome assembly of agar-producing red seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla.

Scientific data·2026

Same author

Olfactory-to-Entorhinal Network Dysrhythmias Drive Parkinson's Cognitive Impairment Through Frequency-Specific Oscillatory Decoupling.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2025

Same author

Dentate Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation for Spinocerebellar Ataxia: Results of a 6-Month Follow-Up.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Assessment of Sensorimotor Function in Mouse Models of Parkinson's Disease

Assessment of Sensorimotor Function in Mouse Models of Parkinson's Disease

Published on: June 17, 2013

Distinct Olfactory Bulb-Cortex Neural Circuits Coordinate Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease.

Shuai-Shuai Wang¹, Xing-Feng Mao², Zhi-Shen Cai¹

¹Medical Basic Research Innovation Center for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, China; International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.

Research (Washington, D.C.)

|October 3, 2024

Summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) cognitive decline is linked to olfactory system dysfunction. Aberrant neural coherence in the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex may predict and treat cognitive impairment in PD.

More Related Videos

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: August 25, 2014

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Assessment of Sensorimotor Function in Mouse Models of Parkinson's Disease

Assessment of Sensorimotor Function in Mouse Models of Parkinson's Disease

Published on: June 17, 2013

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: August 25, 2014

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Olfactory System Research

Background:

Cognitive dysfunction is a major non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD).
Olfactory system dysfunction predicts cognitive decline in PD, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the link between olfactory circuit abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.
To identify specific neural mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets within the olfactory system for PD-related cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

Utilized clinical functional MRI (fMRI) to assess functional connectivity in olfactory pathways.
Employed Parkinson's disease mouse models to study neural coherence in the olfactory system.
Conducted transcriptomic and genetic analyses to identify key molecular players.
Developed and tested a novel deep brain stimulation protocol in the olfactory bulb.

Main Results:

Demonstrated abnormal functional connectivity between the olfactory bulb (OB) and piriform cortex (PC)/entorhinal cortex (EC) in PD patients and mice.
Identified two distinct OB mitral/tufted (M/T) cell subpopulations projecting to aPC and EC, crucial for cognitive memory via neural coherence.
Discovered a potential role for biorientation defective 1 (Bod1) in OB M/T cell-mediated cognitive function.
Showed that olfactory bulb deep brain stimulation improved cognitive function in Bod1-deficient and PD mice.

Conclusions:

Aberrant coherent activity in the olfactory system is a potential biomarker for assessing cognitive function in Parkinson's disease.
The olfactory system, particularly OB M/T cell pathways, represents a promising therapeutic target for treating cognitive dysfunction in PD.