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olfaction

·June 10, 2024·6 min read

Loss of Smell Linked to Heart Failure Risk

Poor olfaction in older adults may predict the development of heart failure. The study followed 2,537 participants and found that those with a reduced sense of smell had a 30% higher risk of developing congestive heart failure. This finding suggests a need to further explore the relationship between sensory deficits and heart health. Understanding this link could lead to better early interventions for at-risk populations.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 8, 2024·5 min read

Key Protein Essential for Smell and Survival Identified

The Orco protein is crucial for the survival of olfactory neurons in ants. Mutating the orco gene in Harpegnathos saltator ants drastically reduced their number of olfactory neurons, impairing their social interactions. This stud highlights the importance of Orco in neural development and social communication in ants. Understanding these mechanisms can provide insights into sensory-mediated social behavior in both animals and humans.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 18, 2024·6 min read

Are Scents of Nature an Untapped Well-Being Boost?

A new study urges researchers to explore how the smells of nature impact human health and well-being. While the visual aspects of nature have been extensively studied, the olfactory dimension remains under-explored.

This shows a brain and a measuring tape.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 16, 2024·5 min read

High BMI Linked to Weak Smell-Eating Circuit in Brain

A new study reveals a novel brain circuit linking the sense of smell and eating behavior. The weaker the connection between these regions, the higher a person's Body Mass Index (BMI).

Featured Neuroscience

·May 13, 2024·5 min read

Naming Scents: How Labels Shape Our Perception of Odors

New research reveals that the names we assign to odors can significantly influence how we perceive them. In a study utilizing ultrahigh-field functional MRI technology, participants rated identical odors as more dissimilar when they were given different names, underscoring the impact of language on sensory experience. The study tracked how odor information is processed in the brain's primary olfactory cortex, specifically the piriform cortex, and showed different brain activities based on the labels used.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 25, 2024·4 min read

Sight and Smell of Food Kickstarts Liver Activity

Merely seeing and smelling food can activate adaptations in liver mitochondria in mice within minutes. This response is driven by the activation of POMC neurons in the brain, signaling the liver to prepare for nutrient processing by modifying mitochondrial protein through phosphorylation.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 25, 2024·7 min read

Hybrid Brains: Mice with Rat Neurons Sense Smells

Researchers made a groundbreaking advancement by developing mice with hybrid brains containing rat neurons, allowing them to perceive odors like rats. This innovation underscores the brain's remarkable flexibility to integrate and utilize cells from different species, potentially revolutionizing approaches to human-machine interfaces and cell transplantation therapies.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 11, 2024·6 min read

Nose vs. Gut: Unraveling Parkinson’s Toxic Origins

A pivotal hypothesis paper challenges existing theories on Parkinson's disease origins, proposing environmental toxicants as key culprits. This study suggests that Parkinson's can start from the brain's smell center or the gut, influenced by inhaled or ingested toxins.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 5, 2024·5 min read

Sense of Smell Relies on Predictive Coding More Than Vision

Our sense of smell operates on predictive coding more so than vision, challenging previous notions of smell as a primitive sense. Through a series of experiments, including behavioral studies and fMRI brain imaging, the study highlights smell's sophistication in reacting to unexpected stimuli by engaging not just the olfactory but also the visual brain regions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 28, 2024·4 min read

Dogs Sniffing Out PTSD

Dogs can be trained to detect stress-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human breath, potentially identifying the onset of PTSD flashbacks. This groundbreaking study utilized two dogs to distinguish between the breath of individuals recalling traumatic experiences and control samples, achieving over 70% accuracy.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 12, 2024·8 min read

Smell Loss Heightens Safety Risks

A new study highlights the significant safety concerns and hazards faced by individuals with olfactory dysfunction, including a higher incidence of gas safety scares. The survey of 432 participants, conducted from February to September 2022, found that a large majority are concerned about their safety, particularly regarding gas leaks, smoke detection, and spoiled food, with over a third experiencing related hazardous events in the past five years.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2024·3 min read

Scents Enhance Memory Recall in Depression

Familiar scents can significantly aid individuals with depression in recalling specific autobiographical memories, potentially offering a new avenue for therapeutic intervention. By directly engaging the amygdala through olfactory cues, the research demonstrated that scents are more effective than verbal prompts in evoking vivid and specific memories.