The olfactory experience is subjective. The perception of odors depends on the context and prior experience of an individual.
Study reveals at least six types of mammals distinguish odors in similar ways, using neural networks that are evolutionarily preserved across species.
An asymmetric coupling between the peripheral visual and olfactory sensory systems allows for enhanced steering response to discrete objects in mosquitos.
Exposure to unpleasant smells is associated with better memory recall 24 hours later.
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.
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.
PPL2 neurons help modulate the strength of memories.
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.
Small changes in a single olfactory receptor gene can affect how strong, or how pleasant, a person finds a particular odor.
Poor olfaction is correlated with higher long-term mortality in older adults, particularly in those with good health at baseline. Dementia, Parkinson's disease and weight loss may be possible drivers for the higher mortality rates, but around 70% of cases are unexplained.
Functional olfactory receptors have been identified in human taste cells. The findings suggest olfactory receptors play a role in the taste system by interacting with taste receptors on the tongue. The brain, researchers say, combines input from taste, smell and other senses to create a multi-modal sensation of flavor.
During navigation tasks using a 'smell scape', the entorhinal cortex and ventromedial prefrontal cortex elicit grid cell-like activity.
