A collaborative research team from the University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, and RWTH Aachen University —all part of the iBehave network — has made a pioneering contribution to our understanding of the human sense of smell. In a landmark study published in Nature, researchers have, for the first time, recorded the activity of individual neurons in the human brain during olfactory perception.

The study reveals that certain neurons in the brain not only respond to odors but are also activated by visual or textual representations of those odors. This finding suggests a remarkable level of sensory integration, shedding light on how the brain builds complex and meaningful perceptual experiences from multiple sources of input.

“Our results show that odor processing in the human brain goes far beyond basic sensory detection,” said Prof. Florian Mormann, corresponding author and iBehave Principal Investigator from the Department of Epileptology at UKB. “This level of multisensory representation opens up new perspectives on how we understand memory, language, and perception.”

Co-corresponding author and iBehave PI Prof. Marc Spehr, head of the Department of Chemosensation at RWTH Aachen, emphasized the broader impact:

“This study bridges a longstanding gap between research in animal models and human cognition. Understanding how odor is represented at the single-neuron level in humans brings us closer to the development of technologies such as olfactory prosthetics or therapeutic tools for sensory disorders.”

This work stands out not only for its scientific significance but also as a model of successful interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration within the iBehave network. By combining neurosurgery, electrophysiology, chemosensory science, and cognitive neuroscience, the project exemplifies iBehave’s mission to uncover the mechanisms of brain function and behavior across species.

Publication Details
Marcel S. Kehl et al. 2024
Title: Single-Neuron Representations of Odors in the Human Brain
Published in Nature. Read the full article here.

Photo credit: from publication 

Press Contact:
Dr. Sarah Imtiaz
Scientific Coordinator of iBehave Network
E-mail: sarah.imtiaz@ukbonn.de

About iBehave:
iBehave is a multidisciplinary research network funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia. It connects leading neuroscience researchers across the Rhine region to investigate how the brain generates adaptive behavior. The network fosters innovative science, cutting-edge technology, and collaborative training for the next generation of neuroscientists.