Luktcentrat

Luktcentrat is the Swedish term for the brain’s smell center, referring to the networks that receive, process, and interpret olfactory information. In humans, odors are detected by olfactory receptor neurons in the nasal epithelium. These neurons transmit signals via the olfactory nerve to the olfactory bulb, located on the forebrain’s ventral surface. Within the bulb, signals are organized into glomeruli and relayed by mitral and tufted cells to higher brain regions.

Higher processing centers include the primary olfactory cortex (notably the piriform cortex), the entorhinal cortex, and the amygdala, with additional integration in the orbitofrontal cortex. These areas combine odor identity with memory, emotion, and contextual cues, contributing to the perception and significance of smells. Unlike other senses, olfactory pathways often have direct connections to limbic structures, enabling rapid emotional and mnemonic associations.

The luktcentrum thus encompasses both the primary olfactory structures and the broader cortical regions involved in odor discrimination, memory, and affect. Clinically, alterations in smell function—such as anosmia (loss of smell), hyposmia (reduced smell), or parosmia (distorted smell)—can result from nasal disease, head injury, viral infections, or neurodegenerative conditions. Research on the luktcentrum informs fields ranging from neurology and psychology to flavor science and sensory branding.