ESP Biography

How are we able to enjoy the scent of frying bacon in the morning? Why does smelling popcorn trigger that flashback of watching Spiderman in 3D? The olfactory system is the elegant biological network that allows us to have these experiences. In this course, we will describe how different parts of this system work together to create our sense of smell: from the specialized cells that detect chemical compounds in the air, to the signals that are sent to the brain, to the regions of the brain that process these signals. In addition, we will discuss how the olfactory system is linked to other networks and can affect our behavior, memories, and sense of taste. We will teach this course through a combination of lectures, videos, and activities. Videos will include examples of how changes in the olfactory system of mice and flies can drastically affect their behavior. Activities will involve smelling a steroid that smells very different to different people, using the olfactory system to enhance the taste of jellybeans, and much more. This course does not come with any prerequisites, as we will provide a brief introduction to how cells in the brain function by themselves and with each other. The only requirement is an interest in neurobiology and the desire to see some amazing examples of how the olfactory system works