Cracking the Olfactory Code

We’re all familiar with the power of smell: a Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven may lure you into the kitchen, while the stench of rotting trash can cause you to run the other way. However little is known about how odors can trigger very different neurological responses and behaviors. Matt Wachowiak, USTAR professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah is collaborating with a large, interdisciplinary team to crack the olfactory code. Wachowiak explains the barriers he and his team are facing, how they are approaching the problem, and what they hope to accomplish.