Olfaction is the sense of smell, which allows the perception of odors by chemoreception. It is a form of chemoreception. Olfaction has many purposes, such as the detection of hazards, pheromones, and food. It integrates with other senses to form the sense of flavor. Olfaction occurs when odorants bind to specific sites on olfactory receptors located in the nasal cavity (in mammals) or olfactory organs like antennae, maxillary palp etc (in insects).
Questions tagged [olfaction]
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Is there an RGB equivalent for smells?
Millions of colors in the visible spectrum can be generated by mixing red, green and blue - the RGB color system. Is there a basic set of smells that, when mixed, can yield all, or nearly all detectable smells ?
Spartacus9
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Do viruses or bacteria have a flavour?
My 9 year old niece asked me this when I was explaining some stuff to her about the coronavirus. She asked "What does this virus taste like? Can I tell whether my sandwich is contaminated for example?"
That sounded like a silly question and I…
polfosol ఠ_ఠ
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Why do cyanide and arsenic smell like almonds and garlic, respectively?
Why do humans smell arsenic as garlic or cyanide as almonds? Do both smells activate the same receptor? Is there any reason why our brain interprets these smells the same?
murmansk
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Why dogs move their noses when smelling?
I read on Wikipedia that:
The wet nose, or rhinarium, is essential for determining the direction of the air current containing the smell. Cold receptors in the skin are sensitive to the cooling of the skin by evaporation of the moisture by air…
Petr
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Why do sulfur compounds smell?
Many of the compounds of sulfur have a strong odor. Hydrogen sulfide from rotten eggs, the mercaptans of a skunk, the odor compounds in onions and garlic, the bitter taste of brassicas (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, and similar plants)…
Ross Millikan
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Why do fishes have both a gustatory and an olfactory system?
I would like to know if there is a reason why fishes (and many aquatic species) have both an olfactory and a gustatory system. As far as I know, in all fish species the chemoreceptors, organs and neuronal pathways are different for taste and…
Ratbert
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What produces the strong odor of decaying dead animals?
Are there specific chemicals responsible for producing the strong, putrid odor that is present after an animal deceases? Also, how long does this odor last?
SpeedOfLight
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Why does freshly cut grass smell like a watermelon?
I found that, when I smell watermelon aroma outdoors, someone nearby has mowed the grass. Is there an underlying basis?
rook
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Does the human body metabolize what it smells, even in trace amounts?
I conjectured to a friend that some small amount of anything we smell is likely metabolized by the body. He disagreed. My thinking is that, if you are smelling something, some portion of molecules are being sensed by the olfactory tissue and some…
Becca Dee
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Does our nose detect only if there is change in odor?
If I enter a room with certain odor, I can sense the odor. However, if I stay there for some time I cannot sense it anymore. A new entrant to the room can still smell it or I have to leave the room for some time and upon returning I can sense it…
grtnosed
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Are similar smells usually based on similar chemicals?
Building off of this question: Why does freshly cut grass smell like a watermelon?, is it usually the case that things that we perceive as having similar smells are, in fact, the same or a similar chemical hitting our noses (as in the case of…
Oreotrephes
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When and why did humans start disliking the way we naturally smell?
Like many animals, humans produce a myriad of scents from sweating, bacteria, possibly pheromones, etc. Many of these scents are used throughout the animal kingdom for mate choice, recognition of individuals, or signifying presence or territory.
I…
theforestecologist
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How are smell and taste in fish differentiated?
The senses of taste and smell in different fish classes are described as two distinct senses; smell is mediated by the nasal openings, and taste by epithelial taste buds.
They are both forms of chemoreception and therefore it is not clear to me what…
Self-teaching worker
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How long does it take to reset sense of smell?
I have noticed that when I go on vacation for several days and then come back home, there is a distinctive, relatively mild paint smell in my apartment complex. However, under normal circumstances, this smell is virtually unnoticeable to me.
What…
N4v
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Is olfactory input processed by the thalamus?
Is olfactory input processed by the thalamus? I know olfaction is the only sense that can bypass the thalamus, but are there cases where the input can project to the thalamus?
isabel
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