olfactory bulb
"The mammalian olfactory system is unique in that sensory receptors synapse directly into the olfactory bulb of the forebrain without the thalamic relay that is common to all other sensory pathways. We argue that the olfactory bulb has an equivalent role to the thalamus, because the two regions have very similar structures and functions. Both the thalamus and the olfactory bulb are the final stage in sensory processing before reaching target cortical regions, at which there is a massive increase in neuron and synapse numbers. Thus, both structures act as a bottleneck that is a target for various modulatory inputs, and this arrangement enables efficient control of information flow before cortical processing occurs."
"The Olfactory bulb is like a post office but for the nose, where the receptor cells send gathered information, and where that information is processed for the brain to understand. After the brain recognizes smells, the "messages" travel a hotline between the Olfactory brain and the brain's ancient limbic centers responsible for memory and emotion."
"The olfactory bulb is, like the retina, a wonderland of extraordinary synaptic relationships that include electrical synapses."
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