Smell #2

Maliyha Richardson
Department of psychology, APUS
Psyc 304: Perception
Dr. Melissa Trevathan-Minnis
August 28, 2022
 The olfactory system is what we use to perceive or sense of smell. This is known as

olfaction, which involves the detection and identification of molecules in the air. Our nose has an

opening that contains nasal passages, which allows outside air to flow into the nasal cavity.

Within the nasal cavity is the olfactory epithelium. It contains olfactory nerve cells and receptor

nerve cells that send impulses to the olfactory bulb. This is because the olfactory epithelium is

where we detect odors. Our sense of smell has now kicked in. Thus, these signals are then sent

along olfactory tracts to the olfactory cortex of the brain through sensory transduction. This is

important, seeing as the olfactory cortex is vital for the processing and perception of odor. It is

also located in the temporal lobe of the brain, which is involved in organizing sensory input.

Smell directly connects to the brain because of the limbic system. This involves the

limbic system structures, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. The amygdala

is involved in forming emotional responses and memories, the hippocampus indexes and stores

memories, and the hypothalamus regulates emotional responses. Thus, smell sensations are

relayed to the cortex, where ‘cognitive’ recognition occurs, only after the deepest parts of our

brains have been stimulated. Odors can trigger both positive and negative emotions as aromas

are associated with specific memories. For example, I could walk into a room and notice a scent,

and then I recognize the odor as tea tree oil, which triggers the memory of my friend who used to

put it in their hair everyday. Thus, smells can trigger feelings or act as cues for behavior, which

can be direct. For example, if someone is giving off an unpleasant odor, it may cause you to not

go near them. Overall, this part of the brain is where emotions are primitive, making this

sensation one of the most powerful.

 References

Admin (2019, September 10). Smell and the brain: How smell triggers memories and emotions. Lumen and
Luxe. https://lumenandluxe.com.au/blog/smell-and-the-brain-how-smell-triggers-memories-and-
emotions/

Our sense of smell. (2016, july 25). ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/olfactory-system-4066176