odorperception
Odor perception refers to the sensory and perceptual processes by which volatile chemical compounds in the environment are detected and interpreted as smells. It begins when odorant molecules enter the nasal cavity and bind to olfactory receptor neurons in the olfactory epithelium. Each receptor responds to specific molecular features, and the combination of activated receptors encodes a particular odor. Signals are transmitted to the olfactory bulb and then to higher brain regions such as the piriform cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and limbic structures, where identity, intensity, quality, and hedonic value are integrated.
Olfactory receptors: Humans possess a large family of olfactory receptor genes; not all expressed in every
Perception is influenced by concentration, background odors, sensory adaptation, and prior experience. Odor mixtures can be
Assessment and research methods include olfactometry to control stimulus concentration, and standardized tests such as Sniffin’
Disorders affecting odor perception include anosmia, hyposmia, dysosmia, and phantosmia. Causes range from nasal obstruction and
Odor perception also intersects memory and emotion, and is influenced by cultural context and environmental factors,