How Many Smells Can You Smell?

The video explores the sense of smell, tracing its origins to single-celled organisms. It highlights the complexity of olfactory receptors, which are coded by nearly a thousand genes, and explains how these receptors detect a vast array of odors. The video discusses the emotional and memory connections of smell, noting that smell-associated memories are often more emotional than those triggered by sight or sound. It also examines the perception of smell, suggesting that humans can detect up to a trillion different odors. The video concludes by reflecting on the unique and powerful nature of smell.

What is the primary function of olfactory receptors in humans?

• To identify odors

• To detect light

• To sense temperature

• To process sound

How do odor molecules trigger nerve responses?

• By vibrating at high frequencies

• By changing color

• By fitting into receptors like a lock and key

• By emitting sound waves

Which part of the brain is closely associated with processing smells and emotions?

• Cerebrum

• Medulla

• Amygdala

• Cerebellum

What recent estimate did scientists make about the number of different smells humans can detect?

• 1 million

• 100,000

• 1 trillion

• 10,000

Compared to our sense of sight and hearing, how is our sense of smell described?

• Less reliable

• More boundless

• Equally limited

• More limited