PSYC 215 Chapter Notes -Primary Olfactory Cortex, Olfactory Bulb, Olfactory Receptor
12 Mar 2014
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Page 43-57, 14 pages page 1 of 7. Introduction: olfaction and gestation are chemical senses, where information is extracted from the environment by direct chemical interactions. The reception of neurotransmitters and hormones is also technically chemoreception. Smell: odours can be used to detect prey and predators, identify mates or competitors, and judge the palatability of food. Even humans can distinguish gender by breath, hand, or armpit smell, and women may synchronize menstrual cycles due to chemical signals: odours are very effective at evoking powerful emotional responses and memories. It is unclear whether humans have this system: the nose must balance its job of filtering the air for lungs, and channelling air with molecules onto the olfactory epithelium for smelling. Receptors: olfactory sensory neurons (osns) are found in the roof of the nasal cavity, on the olfactory epithelium. This area of 2-4 square centimeters contains about 6 million receptors.
