What are the applications of the principles of the olfactory system?

The general principles discovered by the Nobelists for the olfactory system appear to apply to other sensory systems as well. For example, another kind of "smell" used to convey information - pheromones. Insects often use such substances. There is a similar phenomenon in mammals, but even though mammals use similar pheromones, they are not sensed by the olfactory epithelium. In the nasal cavity a tissue called the vomeronasal organ is responsible for sensing pheromones. However, scientists such as Axel found that the protein receptors on the vomeronasal organ for sensing pheromones and the protein receptors for sensing odors are quite different. This suggests that the olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ may have evolved separately a long time ago.

Several studies have shown the presence of "love at first sight" pheromones in rodents. But we don't yet know whether humans have pheromones with similar effects. Columbia University President Bullinger said their research "addresses how our brains convert sensations into knowledge and can improve people's quality of life." Today, the theories or scientific research results of the two scientists' basic research have been applied to real life, or have helped other scientific research.

Rats are trained to search for people buried under rubble after earthquakes. Mice have a keen sense of smell, and after several months of training to remember human smells using the principle of smell, scientists implanted electrodes in their brains and connected them to electronic transmitters. When they were sent to the site of the ruins, after smelling the "target", the brain wave fluctuation graphics showed "Aha... found it". At this time, technicians can determine the position of the mouse through the device, and at the same time know the whereabouts of the trapped people. Separately, Japanese researchers are working on a scent gun that could be used in places like shopping malls. When customers walk past the bakery, the camera will direct the scent gun to spray out the aroma of bread to attract customers.Researchers at the Rockefeller University in the United States found that the sense of smell of mosquitoes depends on the gene Or83b. If chemical methods are used to disable the function of this gene, it will be difficult for mosquitoes to find their prey --- humans.