Articles tagged with Olfactory Perception
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Researchers found that mice lacking a sense of smell lose an average of 16% body weight, with most weight loss coming from fat. The team discovered a link between the loss of smell and increased burning of brown fat, which helps with weight regulation.
A recent study found that mice who lost their sense of smell gained less weight on a high-fat diet compared to those with normal smell. The researchers used gene therapy to temporarily destroy olfactory neurons, and the smell-deficient mice rapidly burned calories by up-regulating their sympathetic nervous system.
Researchers at UNIGE show that Fprs, present on immune cells, also bind to molecules linked to pathogens in the nose of mice, indicating an evolutionary shift towards olfaction. This innovation resulted from two genomic 'accidents' occurring millions years apart during rodent evolution.
Researchers have found that brain regions can target specific pools of stem cells in the subventricular zone, stimulating them to divide and produce particular types of olfactory bulb neurons. This allows for the on-demand generation of specific neuron subtypes in the adult brain.
Researchers at WPI will explore neural activity in Caenorhabditis elegans using the small worm's unique biology. The goal is to identify molecular mechanisms that contribute to gender-specific neuronal bias in neurological disorders.
According to Rutgers University researcher John McGann, humans can detect and discriminate an extraordinary range of odors, rivaling that of rodents and dogs. The human olfactory bulb is similar in size and number of neurons to other mammals, challenging the long-held misconception about human sense of smell.
Researchers have identified a novel adenosine receptor gene, A2c, that mediates the appetizing smell of fish food in zebrafish and other aquatic vertebrates. This receptor is highly sensitive to ATP and related compounds, triggering foraging behaviors.
A recent review by John McGann suggests that humans' ability to detect certain scents is superior to other animals, such as dogs. The study highlights the importance of smell in human communication and mate choice, challenging the long-held notion that humans have an inferior sense of smell.
Researchers found that genetics controlled which receptors were present in mice, but the environment also played a significant role in shaping the olfactory system. This combination of genetic and environmental factors gives each individual a unique sense of smell, even among genetically identical animals.
Researchers developed a non-invasive nanoparticle delivery method that can target the brain via the nasal cavity, reaching it within minutes. The approach uses aerosol science and engineering principles to generate monodisperse nanoparticles that pass through the brain-blood barrier.
Researchers found that polar bears use crosswind movement to detect seals, with best conditions at night during winter. Climate change projections suggest increased winds may hinder this ability, impacting hunting success.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia found that sodium citrate nasal spray can temporarily restore sense of smell in people with viral-induced anosmia or hyposmia. The treatment lasted up to two hours and was most effective for patients whose ability to smell was damaged by viral infection.
Poor smell was associated with an 8% lower risk of mortality, while those with complete olfactory loss had a 19% higher risk of death. Olfactory assessments may provide insights into the aging brain and future research aims to pinpoint underlying biological processes.
A new study by Monell Center researchers found that older U.S. women with poor olfactory function tend to have fewer social connections and a poorer social life score. The study suggests that maintaining a vital social life can help improve mental and physical health in older adults.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that female mosquitoes possess a secondary set of odor sensors, which are specially tuned to detect human-derived chemical signals. This system allows the insects to seek out humans as a preferred host, potentially aiding efforts to combat malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
A new study finds that mice display contagious itching behavior after observing peers, even when watching videos of others scratching. The researchers identified the suprachiasmatic nucleus as a key driver of this phenomenon.
A crowdsourcing effort helped researchers develop a mathematical model that can forecast the scent a molecule will evoke. The study used over 1 million data points from human volunteers to link perceptual information to chemical features, achieving a perfect score of 0.83 in smell prediction.
A woman in Argentina endured multiple strokes, resulting in extensive brain damage, yet remained functional. Despite lesions in both hemispheres, her cognitive abilities and emotional recognition remained near-normal.
Researchers developed a new PET imaging technique that can detect changes in olfactory neuron populations, which are sensitive to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. The technique uses GV1-57 radiotracer to quantify neuron generation and degeneration, providing insights into disease progression.
Researchers have developed a novel PET radiatracer called Neuroflux to quantify olfactory sensory neurons, improving measurements of olfactory health. The study found decreased signals in young animal models before cognitive symptoms onset, demonstrating the vulnerability of olfactory neurons.
A study found that 40% of participants could smell the distinct odor in their urine after eating asparagus, while 60% were unable to detect it. The researchers identified 871 genetic variants linked to asparagus anosmia and suggest future research on sense of smell receptors.
A study by NC State University researchers found that adult-born olfactory neurons play a crucial role in processing novel food odors, but not aversive odors. The researchers used chemogenetic methods to selectively silence these neurons and observed the impact on behavior.
A study at McGill University found significant differences in how people from different cultures perceive and react to the same scents. Providing odour names reduced these cultural differences, suggesting that mental representations activated by sensory information are more diverse than those activated by knowledge of what the scent is.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking 3D imaging technique that maps the reorganization of genetic material in cell nuclei, providing a new understanding of how chromosomes are compacted and genes are activated or silenced. This breakthrough uses X-ray microscopy to visualize the structure and movement of chromatin in real-time.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered a region in the mosquito brain mixing tastes and smells to create unique flavors. The finding advances the possibility of identifying a repellent odorant that makes human flavor unappealing to mosquitoes, reducing malaria transmission.
A study by Thomas Hummel found that the nasal cavity's epithelial lining reacts stronger to inhaled odors, making it easier to detect them. The results suggest that retronasal olfaction, which involves smelling through the mouth, is less sensitive but still allows for a more nuanced experience of food and drinks.
A new study discovered that adenosine inhibits REM sleep by acting on specific receptors in the olfactory bulb. This finding suggests a link between REM sleep and odor perception, which may help treat diseases such as REM sleep behavior disorder. The research team hopes to explore adenosine as a potential treatment target for RBD.
A new laboratory model of Parkinson's disease has successfully replicated the phase that occurs long before diagnosis, revealing how abnormal alpha-synuclein proteins spread in the brain. The study demonstrates a possible link between Parkinson's and non-motor symptoms like cognitive impairment and gastrointestinal issues.
Scientists have found that a time-dependent coding mechanism is essential for distinguishing between similar smells. By inhibiting signals to olfactory bulb output neurons, researchers showed that mice could no longer differentiate between odor mixtures with slightly different ratios or molecules with similar chemical structures.
Scientists observed real-time formation and evolution of new adult-born neurons in the olfactory bulb of mice. Constant structural plasticity in connections between new neurons and neighboring cells was revealed, enabling efficient processing of sensory information.
A team of engineers from Washington University in St. Louis is developing a bio-hybrid nose using the highly sensitive locust olfactory system to create new biorobotic sensing systems. The team plans to monitor neural activity and decode odorants present in the environment, paving the way for explosive detection.
A study published in Neuron reveals how smell preference is computed in the brain, suggesting that most glomeruli contribute to attraction or aversion. The model predicts that relative preferences can flip depending on other odors present.
Researchers have discovered a subgroup of neurons in the nasal cavity that express CD36, a lipid metabolism regulator, linking it to a preference for high-fat food and potentially odorant detection. The study suggests a possible role of CD36 in perception of smells and social interactions.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School discover a novel logic for mammalian olfaction that defies the traditional one-to-one correspondence between odors and receptors. The 'olfactory necklace' system uses a different class of chemoreceptors to detect carbon dioxide and other molecules, triggering innate behaviors such as avoidance.
Harvard researchers have identified a new mechanism for detecting odors in mammals, using 'necklace' neurons that express MS4A proteins to respond to specific smells like nuts and pheromones. This discovery revises the canonical view of how animals probe their chemical environment.
Researchers analyzed CT scans of Pawpawsaurus's skull and found its sense of smell was sharper than some dinosaur predators but less keen than Ankylosaurus. The dinosaur lacked a club tail, but its enlarged nasal cavity may have helped it detect prey or avoid predators.
Salk scientists discovered that specific immune receptors in the brain play a crucial role in clearing both healthy and dying neurons. In their absence, new neurons increased dramatically in certain regions, suggesting that these receptors may also target living but dysfunctional cells.
A team of Monell researchers used mice engineered with OMP knocked out to demonstrate that OMP filters 'noisy' signals, allowing accurate odor information to reach the brain. The findings increase understanding of how the olfactory system integrates and transmits data about odors.
Researchers at Kobe University have discovered a mechanism for the formation of a mosaic pattern of two different cell types in the nasal cavity. The study reveals that interaction between cadherins and nectins leads to the recruitment of cadherins to cell junctions, resulting in a mosaic pattern.
Fruit flies develop complex nervous systems through a set of genetic control switches that interact early in development to generate dozens of types of olfactory neurons. The same gene network also plays a role in programming taste neurons, suggesting the same basic mechanism could be at work in other animals.
Researchers found that female Drosophila flies avoid oviposition sites that smell of parasitic wasps, significantly increasing the survival rate of their larvae. The detection is mediated by a dedicated olfactory circuit that recognizes the sex pheromone of Leptopilina wasps.
Female Drosophila flies avoid laying eggs near parasitic wasps due to an innate early warning system that detects their odor. The study identified the specific olfactory circuit responsible for this detection, revealing a highly specific and efficient defense mechanism against predators.
Research by Urvashi Bhattacharyya and Upinder Bhalla found that rats used a 'run-and-scan' approach to locate targets, scanning across options before selecting the correct one. This strategy outperformed 'tracking' in familiar environments with known paths to food.
Rhesus monkeys can distinguish between female group members and those from different social groups using their sense of smell. This ability helps them understand their social environment, with males and older monkeys showing greater interest in distinguishing odors.
Researchers found that spider monkeys can distinguish between ripe and unripe fruit odors with over 70% accuracy, a skill honed through coevolution with tropical trees. The study suggests that a species' sense of smell is not inherently good or bad, but rather adaptive to their ecological niche.
Gershow's lab will study how fruit fly larvae use the sense of smell to seek out or avoid odor sources using light to read and control individual neurons. The project aims to address broader questions about brain decision-making and sensory input, involving undergraduates and outreach programs.
Researchers aim to create a 'smellscape' to understand how critters navigate by scent and convert odors into spatial information. They will use computational modeling to simulate odor navigation processes and test their models on diverse species.
Researchers at ASU will use honey bees and fruit flies to better understand the physical space of odors and how brains represent them. This study aims to reveal new information about neural representations of odor and their link to brain diseases.
Researchers will explore how brain processes a wide range of odors to understand cognitive functions and behavior in humans. The study aims to shed light on the evolution of mammalian brains and their connection to human behavior.
Smells trigger immediate emotional responses, and olfactory branding can supplant traditional marketing signals in settings like hotel lobbies. Over 41% of guests at ITC Sonar Luxury Hotels in Kolkata agreed that scent is a key factor in enjoying their stay.
Scientists have created a tool that can identify thousands of chemosensory receptors stimulated by specific smells in various species, from mice to flies. This breakthrough could help unravel the logic of chemosensory code across animal species and has countless applications, including understanding behaviors triggered by odorants.
A recent comparative genomic study found that specific olfactory receptor genes correlate with ecological niches and behaviors in birds. Specialized skills, such as those in birds of prey or aquatic birds, were mirrored by genetic diversity of their OR gene families.
Researchers found that Oriental honey buzzards prefer pollen-containing dough over pollen-lacking dough, even when the color is identical. The birds also preferred yellow-colored dough over black or green dough when both contained pollen, suggesting a role for vision in foraging.
A 15-million-year-old Old World monkey's tiny but complex brain supports the idea that brain complexity can evolve before brain size. The olfactory bulb was three times larger in Victoriapithecus than in present-day monkeys, suggesting a better sense of smell.
Researchers have visualized the oldest known Old World monkey skull, revealing a tiny but remarkably wrinkled brain. The ancient creature's brain supports the idea that brain complexity can evolve before brain size in primates, contradicting conventional wisdom.
A team of scientists studied the genetic basis of human olfaction and reconstructed the sensory world of our distant ancestors. They found that different populations have varying abilities to detect specific smells, with some populations being more sensitive than others.
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory report a neural circuit in the mouse olfactory bulb that helps adjust gain on powerful odors. This mechanism allows for better smell recognition and reduces the risk of being overwhelmed by strong smells.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute create a complex mathematical formula to determine individual olfactory fingerprints, which are unique patterns based on personal scent preferences. This breakthrough could lead to early disease detection, non-invasive organ matching, and personalized medical treatments.
Researchers found modest improvements in patients with spinal cord injury treated with olfactory mucosa transplants, showing 'promising and safe' results. The study demonstrated benefits in ASIA sensory scores, bladder compliance, sensation, and daily life activities.
New research from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that humans have a nose for navigation by converting smells into spatial information. Study participants navigated relatively closely to targeted locations using only their sense of smell, even when other sensory inputs were blocked.