Northwestern University · NeuroscienceOlfactory Processing and Neurobiology Lab
Christina Maria Zelano · Evanston, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Christina Maria Zelano's research focuses on understanding how the human brain processes smells, specifically how it distinguishes between different odors based on their intensity and identity. By recording electrical signals from the olfactory cortex during odor perception, the lab aims to bridge the gap between brain activity and how we consciously experience smells. This work not only enhances our comprehension of the olfactory system's functioning but can also provide insights into neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's that are linked to these brain areas.
olfactory perceptionneural correlateselectrophysiologyAlzheimer's DiseaseParkinson's Diseaseepilepsyodor intensityhuman brainpiriform cortexCOVID-19
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how the human brain encodes odor intensity and identity.
AIM 02Identify neural correlates of olfactory perception in the piriform cortex.
AIM 03Explore the relationship between brain oscillations and odor representation.
AIM 04Assess the impact of odor features on sensory perception.
AIM 05Understand the role of olfactory areas in neurodegenerative diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
electrophysiologyneural recordingspsychophysicsdata analysishuman subject researchsignal processingodor perception experimentsbrain imaging techniqueslab animal handlingexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications68bottom 18% of dept.546th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.4kbottom 26% of dept.496th of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.