How the human brain processes different smells
Official title: Electrophysiological representations of odor in the human brain
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11036310 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our brains understand different smells, like how strong they are and what they are, by recording brain activity while people share their thoughts on the odors, which could help us learn more about smell problems related to certain diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $596,097 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021663-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11036310 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation would include individuals with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, as well as healthy volunteers interested in olfactory perception.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with severe cognitive impairments or those unable to provide perceptual ratings may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the human brain represents various features of odors, such as their intensity and identity. By using direct invasive recordings from the olfactory cortex in humans, researchers will collect perceptual ratings while analyzing neural activity. This approach aims to bridge the gap between how odors are perceived and how they are processed in the brain, enhancing our understanding of the olfactory system. The findings could have implications for neurodegenerative diseases that affect olfactory processing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve our understanding of olfactory processing, potentially leading to better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on olfactory processing in rodents, this approach in humans is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zelano, Christina Maria — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Zelano, Christina Maria
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.