Can you help me reply to my classmate's discussion? I really want it to be thought provoking and positive. if possible keep the conversation going with a question at the end. Thanks for your help

Happy week 7, everyone!

The olfactory system is what gives us our sense of smell. Smell is considered a chemical sense because it is responsive to chemical stimuli. An area called the olfactory epithelium in the upper part of the nasal cavity contains the olfactory receptor neurons. These neurons have hairlike structures called cilia, which extend downward into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. When a chemical called an odorant dissolves in the mucus, it will bind to the olfactory receptors on the cilia to varying degrees, depending on the odorant. The olfactory neurons are replaced regularly since they are easily damaged. When they are replaced, the axons of the new cells grow along existing axons. These axons go through an opening in the bone into the brain to the olfactory bulb.

The olfactory bulb contains clusters of synapses called glomeruli, which each receive information from the olfactory neurons of a specific receptor type. There are approximately 350 unique types of receptors. The different levels and combinations of responses from the receptors combine to form codes that result in the perception of smell for each person.

The olfactory bulb is connected to the underside of the brain's frontal lobe by a set of axons called the olfactory tract. The axons divide and travel to different areas of the brain. The primary olfactory cortex is situated in the piriform cortex in the lower middle regions of the temporal lobe. Some axons travel to the limbic system and hypothalamus. This is where fragrances and odors connect to long-term memory and emotions (Students of PSY 3031, 2022).

There is much evidence that people experience the taste of things differently. I think cilantro tastes like dish soap, but my friend loves the stuff and can't detect the soapiness at all. My son says bell peppers are bitter, but to me, they taste sweet. There is some evidence that genetic mutations play a role in the perception of particular tastes. A specific gene is believed to be related to the ability to taste the soap-like flavor in cilantro. Another suppresses the ability to taste the bitterness in certain vegetables. These abilities to taste different flavor components are thought to be a protective mechanism to keep humans from eating poisonous substances. There are some recognized receptors for some tastes. It is also posited that some flavors result from other senses combined with taste, such as the smoothness of oil (Eisenstein, 2010).

Culture plays a big part in how people perceive smells and tastes. Humans eat together. Meals are a social aspect of most cultures. People develop different senses of what food is supposed to taste like. In Japan, most foods have subtle, mild flavors, with a good dose of salt and soy salt. In Thailand, things tend to be more spicy and heavy on cilantro. People usually like the foods they are accustomed to or grew up with. Smell and how it is viewed and experienced also depends significantly on culture. For example, in Japan, the best smell for the human body is no smell at all, with soap being the second-best fragrance. The Japanese use perfumes and other scented items, but smelling "clean" is number one. The African Bushmen consider the smell of rain to be the most desirable. Here is a link to a fascinating article on various customs involving smell: