TED-ED: How to master your sense of smell - Alexandra Horowitz

The video explores the sensitivity of smell, highlighting how experts can identify specific scents and their origins. It discusses the emotional connections linked to smells and how they can evoke memories. The video provides techniques to train the brain to improve smell sensitivity, such as getting closer to odor sources and focusing on smells. It explains the biological process of smelling and suggests practical exercises to enhance smell recognition and appreciation.

What unique ability do tea experts possess?

• They can identify the age of the tea leaves.

• They can determine the location and season of tea harvest by smell.

• They can identify the type of tea by its color.

• They can taste the tea without brewing it.

Why is it suggested to bring your nose closer to the source of a smell?

• To increase the warmth of your breath, making odors easier to detect.

• To ensure the smell is not harmful.

• To prevent the smell from dissipating.

• To avoid distractions from other smells.

What is the role of the olfactory epithelium in smelling?

• It filters out harmful smells.

• It stores memories of different smells.

• It amplifies the intensity of smells.

• It is where odor molecules bind to scent receptors.

How can focusing on scents change the brain according to FMRI research?

• It decreases the sensitivity to strong odors.

• It makes perceiving and imagining odors more automatic.

• It enhances the ability to taste flavors.

• It increases the size of the olfactory bulbs.

What simple exercise is suggested to improve smell recognition?

• Mixing different perfumes and identifying them.

• Inhaling deeply in a crowded place.

• Using kitchen ingredients and trying to name them with eyes closed.

• Smelling flowers and noting their colors.