The Lab.

Smell encompasses a vast array of scientific fields, from psychology to neuroscience to chemistry, as well as humanities, such as philosophy of mind, cultural history, and anthropology of food. 

This inherent multidisciplinary of our topic clarifies the variety methods and projects in our lab.

Olfactometry 

We administer odor stimuli in a targeted and controlled manner with a custom-built sniff olfactometer /SO (design by Acree).

​Notably: exposure is 70-75ms per puff (avoiding receptor habituation).

For details see this BioRxiv preprint of the SO protocoll. 

EEG 

Electroencephalography:

We record and measure brainwaves in response to odors with 64 channel EEG system by BioSemi.

Computational Modeling

We simulate cell behavior to understand neurogenesis (and hope to implement these models in vivo in the future). 

Philosophy

We think, and we read.

​Well. And then some. 

More specifically, we are interested in revisiting the conceptual foundations of neuroscience and theories of cognition. 

We Model Olfaction from a Systems Theoretical View:
​How Biology Perceives Chemistry 

Between the chemical stimulus and our images in the mind lies a complex realm of biological processes. 
Is there sufficient reason to think that proper knowledge of biology -- ranging from receptors in the epithelium and their behavior to higher level interactions in the central nervous system -- affects and changes our understanding of odor coding?
(Short answer: Yes.   Long answer: Well… heck yes.)

Closing the 
​Theory-Experiment Loop

From Theory to Experiments: 
Philosophical work allows for identifying fruitful avenues for empirical research that points to future and currently underexplored directions in science, overlooked by predominant paradigms. Philosophical research can formulate new questions – with experimental applications that further demonstrate how such questions can be implemented in practice and in practice enrich current science.  

And back. From Experiment to Theory: 
​Experimental work challenges our philosophical intuitions. Many theoretical concepts by which we model and analyze perception and cognition stem from partially outdated frameworks. We think philosophy of mind is at its best when faced with empirical challenges and in tandem with science.