How Smell, Taste & Pheromone-Like Chemicals Control You | Huberman Lab Podcast #25

Smell Enhancement

Enhancing one's sense of smell can be achieved through various techniques that engage the olfactory system. Andrew Huberman explains that olfactory neurons, which are crucial for smell, can be trained and maintained by interacting with odors and practicing sniffing techniques. This practice not only enhances smell but also has implications for brain health, as it can aid in recovery from brain injuries by promoting neurogenesis 1.

These neurons turnover throughout the lifespan and as we age, we actually can lose our sense of smell.

--- Andrew Huberman

Huberman also highlights the strong connection between smell and memory, noting that olfaction is one of the most ancient senses and is deeply tied to emotional and contextual memories 2.

   

Taste Training

Training the sense of taste involves focusing on the nuances of flavors and understanding the interplay between taste and smell. Andrew Huberman describes how paying attention to the different components of foods can enhance one's ability to discern subtle flavors, such as distinguishing between different types of tequila or identifying specific notes in wine 3. This heightened awareness is linked to the Maillard reaction, where the combination of smell and taste activates brain areas associated with flavor perception 4.

You can really enhance your ability to taste and taste the different component parts of different foods simply by paying attention to what you're trying to taste.

--- Andrew Huberman

Additionally, Huberman shares a fun experiment using miracle berries to invert the perception of sweet and sour, demonstrating the malleability of taste perception and its reliance on receptor activity in the mouth 5.