Olfactory bulb

A neural structure of the vertebrate forebrain involved in olfaction, the sense of smell.

Odours that circulate in the air are detected by neurons in the roof of the nose and these neurons stretch across the bony cribriform plate directly into the olfactory bulb of the brain. The olfactory bulb is one of the few places in the brain where new neurons appear over the course of the lifespan.

Find out about your olfactory bulb

Our olfactory bulbs could be the key to understanding several neurological conditions including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as the effects of COVID-19 on our brains.

2-Minute Neuroscience: Olfaction
2-Minute Neuroscience: Olfaction
Find out about how your sense of smell works and the specialised cells involved work.
The olfactory bulb: Is it…
The olfactory bulb: Is it…
Find out about Dr Molly Swanson's research into the olfactory bulb and its connection to Alzheimer's disease.
What causes the loss of…
What causes the loss of…
One of the prevalent and more unusual neurological symptoms of COVID-19 has been the loss of the sense of sme…

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