Learning to Smell: Olfactory Perception from Neurobiology to Behavior

by Donald A. Wilson, Richard J. Stevenson

Overview

Written by a neurobiologist and a psychologist, this volume presents a new theory of olfactory perception. Drawing on research in neuroscience, physiology, and ethology, Donald A. Wilson and Richard J. Stevenson address the fundamental question of how we navigate through a world of chemical encounters and provide a compelling alternative to the "reception-centric" view of olfaction.

The major research challenge in olfaction is determining how the brain discriminates one smell from another. Here, the authors hold that olfaction is generally not a simple physiochemical process, but rather a plastic process that is strongly tied to memory. They find the traditional approach—which involves identifying how particular features of a chemical stimulus are represented in the olfactory system—to be at odds with historical data and with a growing body of neurobiological and psychological evidence that places primary emphasis on synthetic processing and experiential factors.

Wilson and Stevenson propose that experience and cortical plasticity not only are important for traditional associative olfactory memory but also play a critical, defining role in odor perception and that current views are insufficient to account for current and past data.

The book includes a broad comparative overview of the structure and function of olfactory systems, an exploration into the mechanisms of odor detection and olfactory perception, and a discussion of the implications of the authors' theory. Learning to Smell will serve as an important reference for workers within the field of chemical senses and those interested in sensory processing and perception.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801883682
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	06/06/2006
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.03(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Donald A. Wilson is a professor of zoology at the University of Oklahoma.

Table of Contents

Preface
1. The Function of the Olfactory System in Animals and Humans
2. A Historical and Comparative Perspective on Theoretical Approaches to Olfaction
3. Receptive Mechanisms
4. The Relationship between Stimulus Intensity and Perceptual Quality
5. Odor Quality Discrimination in Nonhuman Animals
6. Odor Quality Discrimination in Humans
7. Odor Memory
8. Implications
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Essential reading for any student or researcher entering, or already working, in the field of olfaction.
—Graham Bell, ChemoSense

An important contribution that deserves to be widely read . . . It is a landmark that may reshape efforts in this field.
—Rehan M. Khan and Noam Sobel, Nature Neuroscience

A recommended pick for any college-level health library holding.
—Midwest Book Review

This well-written book deals with a relevant topic in a new and refreshing manner; you can add it to your psychology library with confidence that it will be both interesting and informative.
—Stephen F. Davis, PsycCRITIQUES

This is a must-read for olfaction researchers . . . And is currently the best 'introduction to olfaction' that is available. I highly recommend this book.
—Noam Sobel, Quarterly Review of Biology

This new view of olfactory cognition brings to bear many fascinating possibilities for future study in human response to odor stimulus that can have application in medicine and commercial sales.
—Biology Digest

From the Publisher

This new view of olfactory cognition brings to bear many fascinating possibilities for future study in human response to odor stimulus that can have application in medicine and commercial sales.

Biology Digest

Essential reading for any student or researcher entering, or already working, in the field of olfaction.

ChemoSense - Graham Bell

An important contribution that deserves to be widely read . . . It is a landmark that may reshape efforts in this field.

Nature Neuroscience - Rehan M. Khan and Noam Sobel

This is a must-read for olfaction researchers . . . And is currently the best 'introduction to olfaction' that is available. I highly recommend this book.

Quarterly Review of Biology - Noam Sobel

A recommended pick for any college-level health library holding.

Midwest Book Review

This well-written book deals with a relevant topic in a new and refreshing manner; you can add it to your psychology library with confidence that it will be both interesting and informative.

PsycCRITIQUES - Stephen F. Davis

This is a must-read for olfaction researchers... And is currently the best 'introduction to olfaction' that is available. I highly recommend this book.

— Noam Sobel

Quarterly Review of Biology

This well-written book deals with a relevant topic in a new and refreshing manner; you can add it to your psychology library with confidence that it will be both interesting and informative.

— Stephen F. Davis

PsycCRITIQUES

An important contribution that deserves to be widely read... It is a landmark that may reshape efforts in this field.

— Rehan M. Khan and Noam Sobel

Nature Neuroscience

Essential reading for any student or researcher entering, or already working, in the field of olfaction.

— Graham Bell

ChemoSense