NFX #63: The Science of Smell w/ Matt Smear Ph.D.

Dr. Smear studies the neural mechanisms of olfactory function in mice. Mice have an excellent sense of smell – much of their genome encodes odorant receptors (over 1000 genes), and a large portion of their brain processes olfactory information. These neural features support a rich repertoire of olfactory behaviors. The Smear lab interrogates olfactory function with a battery of psychophysical tests, while manipulating and recording neuronal activity with genetics, electrophysiology, and imaging. From these studies, the lab will pursue general principles of how neural circuits generate behavior.

In this episode Dr. Smear discussed the latest and most intriguing findings coming out of his research lab. In addition, we discussed pheromones, aromatherapy, and what motivated Dr. Smear to dedicate his career to this area of research.