Program People Events Contact Site Index Printer Friendly

  Showing all Detail for an individual

Bruce P. Halpern     (WEB PAGE) bph1 @ cornell.edu 236 Uris Hall      607-255-6433   [edit] Faculty associated with: Bruce P. Halpern Department: Neurobiology and Behavior, Psychology Field: Cognitive Science; Food Science and Technology; Neurobiology and Behavior; Psychology Keywords: Aging (6), Olfaction (11) Neuroscience-related courses taught Instructor: BIONB 396: Introduction to Sensory Systems Instructor: BIONB 410-2: The Quest for Agelessness - Molecular Biology of Aging Instructor: BIONB 421: Effects of Aging on Sensory and Perceptual Systems Instructor: BIONB 429: Olfaction and Taste: Structure and Function Instructor: BIONB 492: Sensory Function My research is primarily in sensory systems, studying chemosensory functions and behaviors. MY LABORATORY'S FOCUS IS SMELL IN HUMANS. This research is designed to increase knowledge and understanding of retronasal smelling (smelling odorants that are located in the oral cavity) in relation to orthonasal smelling (smelling odorants that are located near the anterior nares [nostrils], typically outside the organism). The term "smelling" is used rather than "olfaction" because odorants can potentially access both the trigeminally-innervated nasal and oral mucosa and the olfactory mucosa of the nasal cavity during normal retronasal or orthonasal presentation of odorants. Subjects are asked to describe the odorants, match them for intensity, indicate their intensity, or distinguish between odorants and their solvents. These descriptions, intensity reports and discriminations are made either once for each odorant presentation or repeatedly during and after an odorant presentation (time-intensity or time-quality measures). Digital computers are used to provide instructions and acquire responses. I'm also interested in AGING AND CHEMOSENSORY PERCEPTION. Human ability to detect or identify odorants often declines with age, but the rate of decline differs between odorants. These differential declines, coupled with lesser changes in tasting ability, can have profound effects on appreciation of flavor, enjoyment of food, quality of life, and, for odorants per se, responses to warning odorants.

Please report corrections, questions, comments, and problems to: Lori Miller (lmm8 AT cornell.edu)