Olfactory Processing: The Thalamus's Role in Smell Perception

Contrary to a common misconception, the sense of smell does not bypass the thalamus. All sensory information—including olfactory signals—is relayed through the thalamus before reaching the cerebral cortex for conscious perception.

The olfactory pathway includes the olfactory bulb → piriform cortex → thalamus (mediodorsal nucleus) → orbitofrontal cortex. The thalamus integrates smell with other sensory and cognitive processes.