A small forebrain structure at the front of the brain that processes incoming signals about smell.
Structure
Each olfactory bulb contains layered circuits including mitral cells, which collect input from receptor neurons via globular synapses called glomeruli. Each glomerulus pools signals from receptors expressing the same odor receptor.
Function
The bulb performs the first stage of odor pattern recognition before passing information to the piriform cortex and other olfactory areas.
Clinical note
Loss of smell, called anosmia, can result from damage to the olfactory bulbs and is a recognized early sign of several neurodegenerative diseases.
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