Craving junk food after a sleepless night?
Sleep deprivation causes the olfactory system to go into overdrive, sharpening food odors, and breaking down communication within other brain areas that receive food signals.... Read More...
olfaction
New baby smell: How newborn babies’ head odor facilitates bonding
Study sheds light on the olfactory importance of the smell of a newborn baby's head and mother-child bonding.... Read More...
The secret of motivation
Researchers have identified a neural circuit in the brain of fruit flies that help them perform to their best ability while searching for food.... Read More...
Hit your head, lose your sense of smell
Over 50% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury reported their sense of smell was diminished following concussion. The effect does not appear to be long term. ... Read More...
Quantifying how the brain smells
The olfactory experience is subjective. The perception of odors depends on the context and prior experience of an individual.... Read More...
How mammals’ brains evolved to distinguish odors is nothing to sniff at
Study reveals at least six types of mammals distinguish odors in similar ways, using neural networks that are evolutionarily preserved across species.... Read More...
Scientists discover how mosquito brains integrate diverse sensory cues to find a host
An asymmetric coupling between the peripheral visual and olfactory sensory systems allows for enhanced steering response to discrete objects in mosquitos.... Read More...
Your nose knows when it comes to stronger memories
Exposure to unpleasant smells is associated with better memory recall 24 hours later.... Read More...
Intranasal stem cell therapy restores smell in mice
The sense of smell has been restored to mice suffering olfactory problems with the aid of stem cell therapies. The findings provide the basis for transitional research to see whether intranasal stem cell treatments can be beneficial for those who have lost their sense of smell.... Read More...
Does your health in middle age predict how healthy you’ll be later in life?
Vascular and inflammatory problems during middle age, as well as some minor injuries, could be a biomarker for poor brain health in older age. However, brain aging may be delayed by maintaining a healthy diet, weight and level of physical activity as we age.... Read More...
Unexplored neural circuit modulates memory strength: Fruit fly study
PPL2 neurons help modulate the strength of memories.... Read More...
Coffee addicts really do wake up and smell the coffee
People who consume coffee regularly have enhanced sensitivity to odors associated with caffeine. Those who drink more than 4 cups a day can identify the smell of coffee faster, and at weaker concentrations than those who drink less daily. ... Read More...