The primary olfactory cortex is a group of areas on the base of the brain that receive input directly from the olfactory tract, without a relay in the thalamus. Its main part is the piriform cortex near the uncus and front of the temporal lobe, with contributions from the anterior olfactory nucleus, periamygdaloid cortex and part of the entorhinal cortex. It is older, three-layered cortex.
| Location | Base of the brain at the junction of the frontal and temporal lobes, around the uncus and limen insulae |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections | |
| Blood Supply | Middle cerebral artery; Anterior choroidal artery |
Receives smell information and begins identifying odours, linking them quickly with emotion and memory.
Smell is the only sense that reaches the cortex before the thalamus. Seizures starting in or near this region (uncinate fits) often begin with a sudden unpleasant smell. Loss of smell is an early feature of Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease, partly reflecting early changes in olfactory areas.
A focal seizure beginning with an olfactory hallucination, typically an unpleasant smell, from the medial temporal lobe.
Reduced smell that often precedes the motor signs of Parkinson disease and occurs early in Alzheimer disease.
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