Airborne Odor Sensing
Airborne Odor Sensing - Related Videos
08:08
Odorant-induced Responses Recorded from Olfactory Receptor Neurons using the Suction Pipette Technique
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Cited by 13 •
2012
Olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) convert odor signals first into a receptor current that in turn triggers action potentials that are conveyed to second order neurons in the olfactory bulb. Here we describe the suction pipette technique to record simultaneously the odorant-induced receptor current and action potentials from mouse ORNs.
06:41
Testing for Odor Discrimination and Habituation in Mice
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Cited by 66 •
2015
This manuscript describes a protocol to examine the olfactory system of rodents. The olfactory habituation/dishabituation test will allow investigators to determine whether a mouse habituates to a repeatedly presented odor and whether the mouse demonstrates dishabituation when presented a novel odor.
04:17
Approximate Number Sense Test
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2023
Source: Laboratory of Jonathan Flombaum—Johns Hopkins University A common carnival game is to ask people to guess the number of jellybeans packed into a jar. The chances that anyone will get the exact number right are low. But what about the chances that someone will guess 17 or 147,000? Probably even less than the chances of guessing the correct answer; 17 and 147,000 just seem irrational. Why? After all, if the beans cannot be taken out and counted one-at-a-time, how can someone tell that an...
08:50
Visually Mediated Odor Tracking During Flight in Drosophila
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Cited by 8 •
2009
Here we describe how to optimize the acquired video image for an olfactory magnetic-tether (OMT) apparatus. We also describe two sample experimental protocols for studying visuo-olfactory fusion.
29:23
High-resolution Measurement of Odor-Driven Behavior in Drosophila Larvae
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Cited by 24 •
2008
In this video article, we describe a new method allowing the construction of odorant gradients with stable and controllable geometries. We briefly illustrate how these gradients can be used to screen for olfactory defects (full and partial anosmia) and to study more subtle features of chemotaxis behavior.
FAQs
Odor molecules can change properties of the sensing material that engineers measure as electrical resistance, capacitance, or mass. The resulting signal provides a measurable representation of the air sample rather than a direct visual observation. Selecting the response type affects how the system records chemical interactions and supports later interpretation of substances, conditions, or environmental changes.
Sensitivity helps a system respond to relevant chemical changes, while selectivity supports distinguishing among substances or conditions. Performance also depends on maintaining reliable behavior when humidity, temperature, and complex mixtures vary. These factors matter because an odor pattern can become difficult to interpret if environmental influences or overlapping chemical responses alter the measured signal.
A system can interpret the combined responses from chemically responsive materials as an odor pattern rather than relying on one measurement alone. Signal-processing methods translate these responses into information about the sampled environment. This approach supports recognition of substances or changing conditions when an air sample contains multiple volatile chemical compounds with overlapping effects.
A typical workflow exposes a chemically responsive material to an air sample, records changes such as resistance, capacitance, or mass, and applies signal-processing methods to the resulting measurements. Calibration and airflow management help establish dependable system behavior. The processed response can then support identification of substances, conditions, or environmental changes.
Engineering systems apply airborne odor sensing to environmental monitoring, industrial process control, safety detection, and food quality assessment. These uses rely on detecting chemical changes in air and interpreting their response patterns. The same general approach also supports robotic and electronic-nose applications, where sensing systems provide information about surroundings or sampled materials.
Calibration helps relate sensor responses to interpretable odor patterns, while airflow management controls how an air sample reaches the chemically responsive material. Together, they influence the consistency and reliability of measurements. Their importance increases when systems operate across changing humidity or temperature conditions, or when complex mixtures make individual chemical responses harder to interpret.