Olfaction

Recent articles

Tick on a leaf raises its forelegs.

The secret sensory world of ticks

Carola Städele, a self-proclaimed “tick magnet,” studies the arachnids’ sensory neurobiology—in other words, how these tiny parasites zero in on their next meal.

By Calli McMurray
3 March 2026 | 6 min read
Research image of olfactory bulb activity.

Smell studies often use unnaturally high odor concentrations, analysis reveals

It’s time to fashion olfactory neuroscience stimuli based on odor concentrations in the wild, say study investigators Elizabeth Hong and Matt Wachowiak.

By Calli McMurray
16 April 2025 | 7 min read
Dima Rinberg smells one of the compounds in his lab, looking at camera with a quizzical expression.

Sniffing out the mysteries of olfaction

A background in physics, and his own curiosity, have helped Dmitry Rinberg tackle the complexities of the neuroscience of smell.

By Lina Zeldovich
11 December 2024 | 13 min read
Illustration of six different noses smelling in six different abstract landscapes.

Consciously smelling—an edited excerpt from ‘Stinking Philosophy! Smell Perception, Cognition, and Consciousness’

In his new book, published earlier this month, Benjamin Young tackles the debates and central questions surrounding olfactory perception, cognition and consciousness.

By Benjamin Young
26 August 2024 | 12 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Dendrite.

Dendrites compute independently of cell body

Depending on their distance from the cell body, dendrites play different roles in learning and memory.

By Natalia Mesa
29 July 2026 | 5 min read
Illustration of Middle Eastern neuroscientists talking at a bar, eating baklava.

An Iranian, an Israeli, and a Palestinian neuroscientist walked into a bar…

That chance occurrence at an SfN social led us to organize the Middle Eastern Systems Neuroscience Symposium, and forge a plan to build a community that transcends political barriers through scientific connection.

By Arash Fassihi, Gily Ginosar, Noga Larry, Abdulraheem Nashef
28 July 2026 | 7 min read
Research image of inhibitory neurons and parvalbumin-expressing neurons.

Federal advisory panel extends comment period, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 27 July.

By Jill Adams
28 July 2026 | 1 min read