Olfactory Receptors in AP Psychology

Definition

Olfactory receptors are specialized cells located in the nasal cavity that detect and respond to different odors in our environment. They send signals to the brain, allowing us to perceive and identify smells.

Related terms

Olfaction:

Olfaction refers to our sense of smell. It involves detecting and perceiving odor molecules through the activation of olfactory receptors.

Odorants: Odorants are chemical substances that produce specific smells. When they come into contact with olfactory receptors, they trigger a response in our sense of smell.

Nasal Cavity: The nasal cavity is the hollow space inside our nose. It contains the olfactory epithelium, which houses the olfactory receptors responsible for detecting smells.