THE SCIENCE OF THE FORGOTTEN SENSE

Smell is unique among our senses in a few important ways.

IT REGENERATES.
Olfactory sensory neurons continually regenerate throughout adult life (about every 4-6 weeks).

IT HAS A SUPERHIGHWAY TO THE BRAIN.
Smell has unusually close access to neural networks involved in memory, emotion and learning, unique from our other senses.

IT CAN CHANGE WITH EXPERIENCE.
Olfactory training and enrichment studies have reported measurable changes in sensory performance, cognition and the brain itself.

The combination of regeneration, memory circuitry and plasticity is part of what makes olfaction such an interesting target for research.