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olfaction

This shows the olfactory bulb of a mouse

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 29, 2021·8 min read

Decoding Smell

Study reveals how innate valence is encoded in the nervous system of mice.

This shows a woman smelling flowers in a garden

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 8, 2021·5 min read

Why Odors Trigger Powerful Memories

Researchers discovered unique connectivity between the hippocampus and olfactory areas in the brain, a finding which explains why specific odors can trigger powerful memories. The study also reports a loss of sense of smell is associated with depression and a poorer quality of life.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 25, 2021·2 min read

How Amyloid Beta Contributes to Loss of Smell in Alzheimer’s Disease

Regions of the olfactory system in mice with higher amyloid beta expression exhibited lower activation of olfactory sensory neurons and decreased odor detection.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 23, 2021·2 min read

Loss of Sense of Smell and Taste May Last up to 5 Months After COVID-19

51% of COVID-19 patients report they experienced the loss of smell and taste up to five months after infection. On average, once their senses were restored, people reported a loss in sensitivity to smell and taste.

This shows a woman smelling a bar of chocolate

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 18, 2021·4 min read

Taste and Its Two Ways to the Brain

Both the orthonasal and retronasal routes, in addition to our taste buds, shape our taste perception of foods.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 11, 2021·5 min read

Scent Detection Dogs Can Identify Individuals Infected With COVID-19

Trained scent detection dogs are able to detect organic compounds associated with COVID-19 in patients. Researchers report the dogs are better at detecting coronavirus infection than standard tests.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience

·December 11, 2020·2 min read

Sounds and Smells Could Sway Our Self-Image

Our sense of smell and hearing could have a significant impact on self-image and body perception.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 25, 2020·3 min read

The Smell of Cooperation

The smell of a cooperative rat is enough to trigger altruistic responses in other rodents.

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 25, 2020·3 min read

Exercise Motivation Could Be Linked to Certain Smells

Study finds olfaction plays a significant role in the motivation to exercise. Mice who were "high runners" developed genetic differences in their olfactory systems that caused them to perceive smells differently than more sedentary mice.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 17, 2020·3 min read

Malice Leaves a Nasty Smell

Witnessing bad behaviors triggers similar neural responses to those triggered by noxious smells. The study also pinpoints a biomarker in the brain for disgust.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 12, 2020·5 min read

Mosquitoes’ Taste for Blood Traced to Four Types of Neurons

The sense of taste in female mosquitoes is specially tuned to detect at least four different substances in blood.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 29, 2020·5 min read

Repeated Pregnancy Loss May Be Tied to the Olfactory System

Women who experience unexplained repeated pregnancy loss (uRPL) process olfactory signals related to male body odor differently to other women. Those who experience uRPL are better able to identify the smell of their spouse.