Watch it, Tom! Japan experts find fearless Jerries Nov 8, 2007
In an experiment with mice, the researchers identified and removed certain receptors on the olfactory bulb of their brains -- and the result was a batch of fearless rodents ... But this is the first time scientists have discovered that smell detection and how that translates to fear take place in different parts of the olfactory bulb. (Scientific American)
New Brain Cells Listen Before They Talk Nov 2, 2007
D. candidate at Yale, studied how new neurons are integrated into the olfactory bulb, which helps discriminate between odors, among other functions. They found that new neurons continue to mature for six to eight weeks after they are first generated and that the new neurons receive input from higher brain regions for up to 10 days before they can make any outputs. (Science Daily)
Can the Ravages of Dementia in HIV/AIDS Be Arrested? Aug 21, 2007
Neurogenesis (the birth of new nerve cells whereby the brain can heal itself) takes place in specific regions of the adult brain, such as the olfactory bulb (responsible for odor perception) and the dentate gyrus section of the hippocampus, a midbrain area involved in episodic memory and spatial reasoning. Brain tissue of recently deceased HIV/AIDS patients as well as those of sufferers of neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's showed a smaller number of maturing cells, indicating that... (Scientific American)
Researcher Goes 'Through The Nose' To Delay Onset Of Alzheimer's Disease Aug 21, 2007
Solomon, since Alzheimer s plaques first appear in the olfactory bulb. That s why one of the early symptoms of the much-dreaded disease is loss of smell. (Science Daily)
Mice Use Specialized Neurons To Detect Carbon Dioxide In The Air Aug 19, 2007
These GC-D expressing neurons also project their nerve endings to an unusual structure in the back of the olfactory bulb called necklace glomeruli, which resemble a string of beads. The Rockefeller team's collaborators in China, led by Minmin Luo at the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing, found that all the GC-D expressing neurons in the olfactory epithelium were activated by exposure to carbon dioxide. (Science Daily)
Neurosurgeon: Griz are sniffing champs of the wild Jul 29, 2007
And yet our olfactory bulb is the size of a pencil eraser. The bear's is the size of your thumb. (Missoulian, MT)
Insight into neural stem cells has implications for designing therapies Jul 7, 2007
These cells typically produce young neurons that migrate to the olfactory bulb, where they mature into several distinct types of interneurons, neurons that are essential for the sense of smell ... This may provide a mechanism for the brain to dynamically fine tune the olfactory bulb circuitry, raising a fascinating basic question about neuronal replacement: Why are so many different types of neurons, with such diverse origins, required for olfactory function" The implication for cell-based... (EurekAlert!)
Less plasticity in adult stem cells Jul 6, 2007
Neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the mammalian brain neurons throughout the animal's life that migrate to the olfactory bulb and into several different cell types. Many researchers have believed that these stem cells are homogenous and multipotent until they mature in the olfactory bulb, Alvarez-Buylla said ... "That was the model that many people, including ourselves, were working under." , however, suggested that newly born neurons become distinct from one another before... (The Scientist)
Pheromones trigger brain cell growth, say researchers Jul 5, 2007
In his research, Weiss exposed female mice to the scent of the alpha male, and found newly generated neurons in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb the seats of memory and smell, respectively. The scent of a subordinate male did not stimulate brain cell growth. (CBC.ca)
Do hunky men make women smarter? Jul 3, 2007
"We are able to prove for the first time that new neurons in the seat of memory in the brain, the hippocampus, work hand-in-hand with new neurons in the olfactory bulb," said Weiss. "Previously, no one understood how the new neurons in these regions of the brain were communicating.". (Canada.com)
Mighty Mouses musk makes females smarter Jul 3, 2007
The areas of the brain that scientists think pheromones target are also where new cells most often grow in the adult brain the olfactory bulb, which helps perceive odors, and the hippocampus, which helps store memories. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Smell for thought Jul 2, 2007
Which means the olfactory bulb might be the factory to build new brain cells in humans and, along the way, provide a scent of good news for dominant males in the human kingdom too. Potentially good news, chuckled Weiss. (Edmonton Sun)
Powerful urine is mind-altering Jul 2, 2007
Neurons grew in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in learning and memory, and the olfactory bulb, which is involved in smell. Both regions make new neurons throughout life; events such as running, learning and mating trigger increases in one area. (Nature News Service)
New brain cells may revive old neurons Jun 8, 2007
Young neurons are generated in two areas of the brain: the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. The hippocampus, in particular, appears almost like a fountain of youth. (MSNBC -- Health)
How does catnip work its magic on cats? Jun 1, 2007
These cells, in turn, provoke a response in neurons in the olfactory bulb, which project to several brain regions including the amygdala (two neuronal clusters* in the midbrain that mediate emotional responses to stimuli) and the hypothalamus, the brain's "master gland" that plays a role in regulating everything from hunger to emotions. The amygdala integrates the information flow from the olfactory bulb cells and projects to areas governing behavior responses. (Scientific American)
Brain cell development observed in "real time" May 25, 2007
The model employed by Dr. Mizrahi in his research was the newborn neuron population which develops into the olfactory bulb of adult mice, providing them with a sense of smell. The development and maintenance of newborn neurons in this area was assessed by time-lapse imaging over several days at different stages of development. (Xinhuanet, China)
Old brains can be young again? May 24, 2007
S. Lagier, et al. "GABAergic inhibition at dendrodendritic synapses tunes gamma oscillations in the olfactory bulb," Proc Natl Acad Sci. April 11, 2007. (The Scientist)
Brain Processes Sense Of Smell Better Than Previously Thought May 1, 2007
Those visual distractions lead people to ignore their ability to detect smells, something the brain is apparently well equipped to do, according to Kay and Jennifer Beshel, a graduate student at the University, who presented results of her dissertation research in the talk, "Olfactory bulb gamma oscillations are dynamically altered to adjust to task demands," at the annual meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences in Sarasota, Florida. The olfactory bulb is the portion of the brain... (Science Daily)
God Is in the Dendrites: Apr 26, 2007
If he'd lit a stick of incense, the olfactory bulb would have joined the show. Reductive as these studies arethat is the whole point of neurosciencethere has been no loud objection from religious believers. (Slate)
Explainer: Can You Hear Without Ears?click to play audio Mar 23, 2007
Likewise, the nose funnels air (and smells) toward receptors on the olfactory bulbs, which sit behind the face and near the base of the brain ... These turbinates secrete moisture to humidify the air before it reaches the olfactory bulb receptors. (Slate)
Explaining Why We Smell Better When We Sniff Mar 15, 2007
The second is a peripheral drive in the brain to synchronize rhythmic activity, which is the concurrent firing of neurons in the olfactory bulb with breathing. "The mechanosensitivity may increase the sensitivity of our nose, especially when stimulated by weak odors," says Ma. (Science Daily)
Brain creates 'new' nerve cells Feb 17, 2007
In many species, it was known that a tube filled with brain fluid enabled these cells to travel to the olfactory bulb - the region of the brain that registers smells - turning into nerve cells as they went ... The researchers said the addition of new nerve cells in the olfactory bulb in humans helped the system respond to different stimuli throughout a person's life. (Yahoo News -- Brain Research)
Adult Human Brain Can Manufacture Cells Feb 17, 2007
Other mammals were found to have new neurons in the olfactory bulb, the part of their brains used to process smells ... They then confirmed the location of the cell streams leading from the center of the brain to the olfactory bulbs on either side of the forebrain using magnetic resonance imaging MRI in six living patients. (ABC News)
Neurogenesis happens in humans, too Feb 16, 2007
The findings provide new evidence for the theory, and suggest that occurs in the olfactory bulb and follows the same pattern as in other mammalian brains ... However, neurogenesis in the human adult olfactory bulb has remained controversial ... Faull and his colleagues found that baby neurons called neuroblasts, born in the subventricular zone (), reach the human adult olfactory bulb, and do it via the rostral migratory stream (RMS). (The Scientist)
Study: Human brain makes new cells to treat damage, disease Feb 16, 2007
These cells are born in one part of the brain and then migrate to the olfactory bulb, where smells are processed. They mature into neurons on the way. (Xinhuanet, China)
Sex does the body good Dec 22, 2006
This, in turn, causes stem cells in the brain to develop new neurons in the brain's olfactory bulb, its smell center. Reduced risk of heart disease: In a 2001 follow-up to the Queens University study mentioned above, researchers focused on cardiovascular health. (MSNBC -- Health)
Raw Data: Is Cancer the Price of Longevity? Dec 7, 2006
Normal mice with p16 had fewer neural stem cells in one part of the brain and fewer new neurons in the olfactory bulb, again demonstrating p16's ability to inhibit regeneration. But Morrison thinks a little decrepitude might be worth it: "The cells are shutting themselves down when they get old to avoid turning into cancer cells," he says. (Discover Magazine)
Vaccination With Embryonic Stem Cells Prevents Lung Cancer In Mice Nov 9, 2006
Researchers in America have discovered that vaccinating mice with embryonic stem cells prevented lung cancer in those animals that had had cancer cells transplanted into them after the vaccination or that had been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. The findings suggest that it could be possible to develop embryonic stem cell vaccines that prevent cancers in humans, such as hereditary breast and colon cancer and lung cancer caused by smoking or other environmental factors. (Science Daily)
Carnegie Mellon study reveals that odor discrimination is linked to the timing at which neurons fire Nov 8, 2006
In a striking discovery, Carnegie Mellon University scientists have linked the timing of inhibitory neuron activity to the generation of odor-specific patterns in the brain's olfactory bulb, the area of the brain responsible for distinguishing odors ... Populations of mitral cells, a type of excitatory neuron in the olfactory bulb, receive input from neurons in the nose that respond to a single odorant. (EurekAlert!)
Nano-Sized Inhaled Particles Take Easy Route from Nose to Brain Aug 4, 2006
In the current study, the particles passed quickly through the rats' nostrils to the olfactory bulb, a region of the brain near the nasal cavity ... After 12 days, the concentration of ultrafine particles in the olfactory bulb rose 3. (AZoNano.com)
Understanding The 'Machinery' Of Smell Jul 23, 2006
Axon extensions from these sensory neurons converge into the brain's olfactory bulb, where they form a structure called a glomerulus ... The protein olfactory cell adhesion molecule (OCAM) was long thought to be involved in the growth and targeting of axons to the olfactory bulb. (Science Daily)
Researchers Show How Brain Decodes Complex Smells Jun 19, 2006
Extracellular recordings from a single male-urine-specific neuron in the main olfactory bulb of a mouse ... In studies in mice, the researchers found that nerve cells in the brain's olfactory bulb -- the first stop for information from the nose -- do not perceive complex scent mixtures as single objects, such as the fragrance of a blooming rose ... Humans may rely on the same smell decoding system, because mice and men have similar brain structures for scent, including an olfactory bulb, the... (Science Daily)
Mice smell components, not compounds Jun 17, 2006
"We found that glomeruli, the functional units of the olfactory bulb, act as detectors for individual compounds," Lin said ... The research provides hints about how humans sense smells, since mice and men have olfactory bulbs and similar brains. (Washington Times)
The ABC's of Wine Tasting May 27, 2006
The goal is to draw the aromas deep into the nose, to bring them into contact with the olfactory mucosa and thence to the olfactory bulb, where the sensations are registered and deciphered. It's a remote and protected place, and a head cold or allergies will effectively block it off from even the strongest aromas. (SmartMoney)
How the nose knows May 22, 2006
"Wachowiak and his colleagues are now studying what happens at the other end of the olfactory neurons, in a region of the brain called the olfactory bulb. They inject a fluorescent dye into mice that lights up when a neuron is firing, allowing the scientists to see under a microscope which neurons are active when a mouse sniffs a particular odor. They have found that the strength, duration, and timing of a neuron's signal varies depending on the odor's strength, changes that Wachowiak believes... (Boston Globe)
Leaders & Success May 4, 2006
Together, they traced and defined the pathway of scent recognition from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb and olfactory cortex. She also rose from assistant to full professor. (Investors Business Daily)
Paralysis Cure Worth Waiting For Apr 25, 2006
The study examined the results of seven surgeries performed by Hongyun Huang, a doctor in Beijing who treats spinal cord injury patients with cells taken from the olfactory bulb (found inside the nose) of aborted fetuses. Previous anecdotal reports from some of the 600 patients that Dr. Hongyun Huang says he's treated were positive, but had a twinge of irrational exuberance. (Wired News)
New clues to remembering smells Mar 20, 2006
These then send a signal to the part of the brain concerned with smell - known as the olfactory bulb ... They found that the specific pattern of connections with other cells led to output signals leaving the olfactory bulb being magnified hundreds of times. (BBC News -- Health)
News tips from The Journal of Neuroscience Feb 14, 2006
Odorants on Contact and the Main Olfactory Bulb Marc Spehr, Kevin R. Kelliher, Xiao-Hong Li, Thomas Boehm, Trese Leinders-Zufall, and Frank Zufall. Dogma says that the vomeronasal organ senses pheromones whereas olfactory sensory neurons of the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) sense only volatile odorants. (EurekAlert!)
The Lingering Reek of Smell-O-Vision Feb 7, 2006
The olfactory neurons in the nasal cavity, which detect chemical components of aromas, and the brain's olfactory bulb a clump of cells that identify nerve impulses as being triggered by jasmine, say, rather than rose petals are capable of sensing and distinguishing about 10,000 scents. Research has shown that scents can stimulate physiological responses before people even realize what they're smelling. (Los Angeles Times)
The Journey of a New Brain Cell Jan 17, 2006
They eventually arrive at the on-ramp to the highway, which takes them to the olfactory bulb, the part of the brain responsible for perceiving smell. "This is the first study in the brain to show that cell migration depends on variation and orientation of cilia," Alvarez-Buylla said. (Fox News -- Headlines)
New Neurons Go with the Spinal Fluid Flow Jan 13, 2006
The new cells, however, can migrate throughout the brain and turn up as far away as the olfactory bulb--a cluster of nerve cells at the front surface of the brain responsible for the sense of smell ... They then tracked neurons as they migrated from region to region of the brain and found that new neurons oriented in the direction of fluid flow rather than the direction of their ultimate destination in the olfactory bulb ... Whereas 65 percent of new neurons in wild mice ended up in the... (NewsIsFree-Popular)
