HOW DOES THE BRAIN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GOOD AND

BAD SMELLS?

Molecules in the air dissolve in mucus inside the nose and are detected by
olfactory receptors that send signals to the brain. In primates, including
humans, there are two pathways. One goes to the olfactory cortex, the
other passes to the hypothalamus, which is involved with emotion,
motivation and memory. This part is responsible for whether we like or
reject a smell. It may also be why smells and memory have a close
association. Although humans have a comparatively weak sense of smell,
it remains important.

Babies who are just a day old show expressions of disgust when they
smell fish or rotten eggs, while children can distinguish between the smell
of their siblings and other children of the same age. Similarly, a baby
recognises its mums smell and a mother recognises their babys. Even the
humble fruit fly has complex olfactory processing. It has one system that
identifies a smell and another that categorises smells as good or bad.

Molecule Comparatively
Dissolve Weak
Mucuse Remain
Olfatory Disgust
Receptor Rotten
Signals While
Primate Sibling
Pathway Recognise
Cortex Even
Involve Humble
Whethe Complex
Reject Processing
Although Identify
Categorise