Olfactory sensations, examples

TABLE I. Examples of Stimulants Exhibiting Different Taste/Olfactory Sensations... 

The sweet taste and olfactory responses to a variety of stimuli are examples of chemical senses that utilize protein receptors for initial detection of the stimulus. Most bitter compounds have a hydrophobic component which enables their direct interaction with the cell membrane however, some evidence suggests a protein receptor mechanism. The cooling sensation is treated as a chemesthetic sense, where stimulation takes place at the basal membrane. However, compounds that evoke this response have very specific structural limitations, and most are related to menthol. For purposes of discussion, bitter and cooling sensations will be discussed under generalized receptor mechanisms. 

When used correctly, nasal drops and sprays will not come into contact with the taste buds, but nevertheless they can give a sensation of taste [23]. This is easy to understand, as the olfactory organ plays an important role in the experience of taste. The clearance through the nasopharynx can be another cause, as a bitter taste is mainly observed at the rear of the tongue. Usually nasal preparations do not contain any flavouring agents. A side effect of especially nasal sprays may be a change in the users sensation of smell and taste. Examples are nasal sprays with fluticasone and with buserelin (Suprefact ). 

Volatiles emitted from fruits determine their overall aroma properties and flavor which are perceived through olfactory detection of multiple distinct sensory inputs processed to generate the overall sensation [12]. Thus, fruit volatiles could play a role in the attraction of animal seed dispersers. For example, fruit bats can detect and locate fruits, as well as assess their ripeness, based on odor alone [13, 14]. Olfactory cues emanating from the food source are especially important in food location for nocturnal foragers which have limited access to visual cues, as was suggested for night monkeys and lemurs [15-17]. 

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