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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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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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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.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
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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.
The olfactory...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
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Neural correlates of olfactory dysfunction: A systematic review.

Yanyang Huang1, Paul A M Smeets1, Stefanie Schrooten1

  • 1Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|March 29, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Olfactory dysfunction involves widespread brain structural and functional changes, particularly in the orbitofrontal cortex. Current neuroimaging biomarkers are limited, necessitating larger, standardized studies for better diagnosis and prognosis.

Keywords:
EEGMRINeuroimagingOlfactory dysfunctionPETSPECTSmell

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Medical Imaging
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Olfactory dysfunction impacts over 20% of the population, yet its neural basis is not fully understood.
  • Existing research on the neural pathophysiology of olfactory dysfunction is fragmented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review brain structural and functional alterations in patients with olfactory dysfunction.
  • To associate these neural measures with clinical characteristics like etiology and duration.
  • To identify potential neuroimaging biomarkers for olfactory dysfunction severity and progression.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, including 164 studies.
  • Analysis of structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state fMRI, PET/SPECT, dopamine transporter imaging, and EEG data.
  • Correlation of neuroimaging findings with clinical characteristics of olfactory dysfunction.

Main Results:

  • Consistent reductions in olfactory bulb volume and gray matter in key brain regions (orbitofrontal cortex, hippocampus, insula, amygdala) were observed.
  • Widespread white matter abnormalities and altered functional connectivity were identified.
  • Neuroimaging findings showed low-to-moderate correlations with olfactory function, with the orbitofrontal cortex emerging as a critical area.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is associated with extensive structural and functional brain changes, especially in olfaction-related areas.
  • Current heterogeneity in studies hinders robust biomarker identification.
  • Standardized, large-scale research is crucial for advancing diagnosis and personalized prognosis of olfactory dysfunction.