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How the olfactory system makes sense of scents

Author

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  • Stuart Firestein

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

The human nose is often considered something of a luxury, but in the rest of the animal world, from bacteria to mammals, detecting chemicals in the environment has been critical to the successful organism. An indication of the importance of olfactory systems is the significant proportion — as much as 4% — of the genomes of many higher eukaryotes that is devoted to encoding the proteins of smell. Growing interest in the detection of diverse compounds at single-molecule levels has made the olfactory system an important system for biological modelling.

Suggested Citation

  • Stuart Firestein, 2001. "How the olfactory system makes sense of scents," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6852), pages 211-218, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:413:y:2001:i:6852:d:10.1038_35093026
    DOI: 10.1038/35093026
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    Cited by:

    1. Agnes, Everton J. & Erichsen, Rubem & Brunnet, Leonardo G., 2012. "Model architecture for associative memory in a neural network of spiking neurons," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 391(3), pages 843-848.
    2. Hao-Ching Jiang & Sung Jin Park & I-Hao Wang & Daniel M. Bear & Alexandra Nowlan & Paul L. Greer, 2024. "CD20/MS4A1 is a mammalian olfactory receptor expressed in a subset of olfactory sensory neurons that mediates innate avoidance of predators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Anastasiia Gusach & Yang Lee & Armin Nikpour Khoshgrudi & Elizaveta Mukhaleva & Ning Ma & Eline J. Koers & Qingchao Chen & Patricia C. Edwards & Fanglu Huang & Jonathan Kim & Filippo Mancia & Dmitry B, 2024. "Molecular recognition of an odorant by the murine trace amine-associated receptor TAAR7f," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Jane S. Huang & Tenzin Kunkhyen & Alexander N. Rangel & Taryn R. Brechbill & Jordan D. Gregory & Emily D. Winson-Bushby & Beichen Liu & Jonathan T. Avon & Ryan J. Muggleton & Claire E. J. Cheetham, 2022. "Immature olfactory sensory neurons provide behaviourally relevant sensory input to the olfactory bulb," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Chulwon Choi & Jungnam Bae & Seonghan Kim & Seho Lee & Hyunook Kang & Jinuk Kim & Injin Bang & Kiheon Kim & Won-Ki Huh & Chaok Seok & Hahnbeom Park & Wonpil Im & Hee-Jung Choi, 2023. "Understanding the molecular mechanisms of odorant binding and activation of the human OR52 family," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Marylène Rugard & Thomas Jaylet & Olivier Taboureau & Anne Tromelin & Karine Audouze, 2021. "Smell compounds classification using UMAP to increase knowledge of odors and molecular structures linkages," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Silva, Joaquim & Sá, Elisabete Sampaio & Escadas, Marco & Carvalho, Joana, 2021. "The influence of ambient scent on the passengers’ experience, emotions and behavioral intentions: An experimental study in a Public Bus service," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 88-98.

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