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Smell and Memory

When a smell evokes a memory: new research offers clues about how the two are linked in the brain

Different cultures prefer different foods because the olfactory and taste systems connect directly to brain circuits that control emotion and memory. Early exposure wires certain smells and flavors as “safe” or “rewarding,” and cultural patterns reinforce those circuits over time. Genetics and the gut microbiome also shape how we detect and process specific foods. So food preference is driven less by the food itself and more by the neural associations built through biology, experience, and cultu