Olfaction is one of the most elusive of the human senses. It sustains life by enabling several critical functions, such as our ability to locate and select food, our choice of mates, influencing our ...

Researchers have uncovered novel aspects of astrocyte function in olfactory, or smell, perception revealing changes in their gene expression patterns that turn these brain cells into a hub of ...

The sprawling network of the visual cortex reigned supreme in the field of sensory processing, contributing significantly to our understanding of sensory perception. In contrast, the study of ...

The human olfactory system discriminates between thousands of odours by interacting specifically with olfactory receptors on sensory neurons. Each receptor can detect several odorants at different ...

Aversion to an offending smell can be an indicator of the organism’s capacity to protect itself from harmful substances and live longer. This at least is what happens in the case of nematodes of the ...

Once a scent is detected, different areas of the brain are activated. A team has recently discovered that structures of the olfactory sense work closely together with the brain's reward and aversion ...

Our sense of smell has a powerful effect on our behavior and emotions. Aromas can evoke vivid memories of the past or warn us of a smoldering fire. Yet to neuroscientists, smell remains the most ...

In psychiatry, sensory perception is considered critically important. Yet despite its vital role in social and emotional functioning, when it comes to assessing a patient, how well the person ...