On July 3, 2026, researchers from Northwestern University discovered that mammals, including humans and mice, utilize the same underlying system to process smells, indicating a preserved evolutionary trait. The findings, published in Science Advances, highlight significant similarities in olfactory processing between species.
Mice and Humans: Similar Sniffing Mechanisms
The studies reveal that both mice and humans engage in deliberate sniffing behaviors to assess their environments. Unlike previous assumptions, mice can take a single, intentional sniff, similar to how humans evaluate the ripeness of fruit. This behavior suggests a shared neurophysiological basis for olfaction across mammals.
Corresponding author John M. Barrett, a research assistant professor of neuroscience at Northwestern, stated, "The true similarity is this single sniff, but it's not just a sniff." He emphasized that mice even coordinate their hand movements with sniffing, showcasing a volitional act rather than a reflexive response.
Research Findings and Implications
One study focused on how mice inspect food using single sniffs, drawing parallels to human sniffing behavior. Researchers tracked the mice's head and hand movements alongside their breathing patterns using advanced recording technology. The results showed that mice timed their sniffs precisely as food approached their noses, similar to how humans lift food to smell it before eating.
