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Related Concept Videos

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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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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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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Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
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Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
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Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
04:47

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants

Published on: September 18, 2018

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Odor-induced Sustained Neural Activity during Memory Encoding.

Joan Tarrida1, Manuel Moreno1, Jordi Vidal2

  • 1University of Barcelona.

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|July 24, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Even brief exposure to odors can cause lasting neural and memory changes. Unpleasant odors particularly enhance memory encoding and confidence for later visual events, showing sustained brain activity.

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

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Olfactory Perception

Background:

  • The duration of neural and cognitive effects from brief olfactory stimuli is not well understood.
  • Investigating sustained changes in brain activity and memory formation following odor exposure is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine how long neural and cognitive effects of brief odor experiences last.
  • To examine if short exposures to pleasant and unpleasant odors induce sustained changes in brain activity.
  • To assess the influence of odors on memory formation for events occurring seconds later.

Main Methods:

  • Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to record brain activity.
  • Univariate event-related potential (ERP) analyses and time-resolved multivariate decoding were employed.
  • Neural responses were tracked during a 6-second delay between odor presentation and visual memory encoding.

Main Results:

  • Brief odor cues triggered sustained neural activity that persisted beyond the odor's offset.
  • Unpleasant odors resulted in higher sustained ERP amplitudes compared to pleasant odors.
  • Participants exhibited increased confidence in recognizing images preceded by unpleasant odors.

Conclusions:

  • Brief olfactory experiences can induce lasting neural activity.
  • Olfactory cues significantly modulate memory encoding for temporally distant events.
  • These findings highlight the enduring impact of olfactory stimuli on brain function and memory.