About this Research Topic
Our sense of smell is of critical importance in our daily lives and contributes to our personal well-being and safety as well as communication with others. However, it is only when disease or injury impairs its function that we appreciate the relevance of this sensory modality. During the past three decades, research of the olfactory sense has seen an ever-growing interest in this exciting field of study.
One of the prominent features of the olfactory system is the active recruiting of newly generated neurons into the circuit. The olfactory epithelium continues to generate olfactory sensory neurons throughout our lifetime. In addition, the main olfactory bulb receives newly generated inhibitory interneurons. The homeostatic integration of those newly generated neurons is essential for maintaining the olfactory image of objects even under the dynamic reorganization of the olfactory circuit.
Another feature of the olfactory system is the association with the stabilization of the emotional state. It is widely appreciated that smell loss markedly induces depression and anxiety in severe olfactory dysfunction patients. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying the olfactory dysfunction-induced psychiatric disorder are largely unrevealed. However, odor-guided innate/acquired behaviors and accompanied physiological responses may give us clues to understand the association between the olfactory system and psychiatric function.
This Research Topic intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art of olfaction in humans and animal models. The Research Topic will address all aspects of olfaction ranging from molecular, cellular, developmental, and systems to cognitive and behavioral topics as well as clinical studies.
In this research topic, we welcome original and review articles, as well as opinion, methods, and modeling studies. Individual papers can focus on recent advances in specific areas of olfactory physiology or pathophysiology while other studies might focus on technological developments to study olfactory function and dysfunction. Areas covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to the following:
• Homeostatic regulation of olfactory epithelium
• Homeostatic regulation of olfactory bulb circuit
• Olfactory and associated circuits for odor-guided behaviors/physiological responses
• Olfactory dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases
One of the prominent features of the olfactory system is the active recruiting of newly generated neurons into the circuit. The olfactory epithelium continues to generate olfactory sensory neurons throughout our lifetime. In addition, the main olfactory bulb receives newly generated inhibitory interneurons. The homeostatic integration of those newly generated neurons is essential for maintaining the olfactory image of objects even under the dynamic reorganization of the olfactory circuit.
Another feature of the olfactory system is the association with the stabilization of the emotional state. It is widely appreciated that smell loss markedly induces depression and anxiety in severe olfactory dysfunction patients. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying the olfactory dysfunction-induced psychiatric disorder are largely unrevealed. However, odor-guided innate/acquired behaviors and accompanied physiological responses may give us clues to understand the association between the olfactory system and psychiatric function.
This Research Topic intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art of olfaction in humans and animal models. The Research Topic will address all aspects of olfaction ranging from molecular, cellular, developmental, and systems to cognitive and behavioral topics as well as clinical studies.
In this research topic, we welcome original and review articles, as well as opinion, methods, and modeling studies. Individual papers can focus on recent advances in specific areas of olfactory physiology or pathophysiology while other studies might focus on technological developments to study olfactory function and dysfunction. Areas covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to the following:
• Homeostatic regulation of olfactory epithelium
• Homeostatic regulation of olfactory bulb circuit
• Olfactory and associated circuits for odor-guided behaviors/physiological responses
• Olfactory dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases
Keywords: olfaction, olfactory cortex, olfactory bulb, olfactory epithelium, odor-guided behavior
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
