A Sniff Down Memory Lane

Have you ever smelled something that reminded you of your grandmother’s house, or felt nostalgic when you inhale the scent of an old book? This is because of smell’s close relationship with memory. Why is this? The olfactory bulb, which processes smells, is a part of the limbic system which plays a large role in emotions and memory. These brain structures (specifically the amygdala, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb) often work together to create the emotionally-rooted memories that are often attributed to smell (28).