More details about odour detection

Odour perception differs among people. It depends on the odour itself, its intensity, as well as the circumstances and culture. The smell of jasmine may be very pleasant, yet some people dislike it. In high concentrations it is much more difficult to tolerate, yet some people still like it. Odour detection also depends on the time of exposure to some odour. The longer we are exposed to a certain smell, the weaker we get in perceiving it. This is the reason why people do not strongly perceive the smell of their own bodies. Furthermore, we do not usually perceive it as unpleasant, while the people around us can perceive it very differently.

The gene OR11H7 encodes a special olfactory receptor, which interacts with odorous molecules in the nose. Interaction between the receptor and the specific olfactory molecule in nose triggers a nerve action that the brain transforms into odour detection.

Problems in odour detection

As for the olfactory system, people may suffer several disturbances. Anosmia means the total loss of the ability to perceive odours, while hyposmia indicates a reduced ability and hyperosmia an increased ability. Cases of specific anosmia are also known. In such cases a person cannot detect a specific odour.

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