SmellWell
Project overview
Participants
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Short summary
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, awareness of the profound impact of olfactory loss has increased markedly.
Research has demonstrated that olfactory dysfunction can contribute to depression, underscoring the crucial role that the sense of smell may play in emotional regulation. Exposure to certain odours has been shown to reduce stress and alleviate depressive symptoms in both animals and humans. Despite the highly developed olfactory abilities of many mammals, the role of olfaction in the welfare of farm animals has received little attention, and remains poorly studied. This project aims to address this gap by investigating how olfaction and odour perception influence animal emotions and welfare.
Farm animals are highly olfaction-dependent, meaning they rely extensively on olfactory information in their daily lives—potentially more so than any other sensory modality. Previous research led by the project leader has shown that odours represent a valuable environmental resource for pigs, which display signs of excitement or positive anticipation in response to various olfactory stimuli[MVR1] .
The objectives of the SmellWell project are to:
- Investigate how odours and emotions are interconnected in olfaction-dependent animals, using pigs as a model species.
- Determine whether, and in what ways, odours can modulate emotional states in olfaction-dependent animals.
- Explore whether olfaction-dependent animals form long-lasting odour memories, and how these memories influence behaviour and well-being.
- Evaluate the potential of odours and olfactory memory to be used as practical tools for improving animal welfare.
The interdisciplinary project brings together researchers in neurobiology, ethology, and neuroethology to comprehensively explore the olfactory system, its underlying neurobiological mechanisms, and its relationship to emotional states and animal welfare. The field remains largely unexplored, making this project both novel and potentially transformative in shaping future strategies for securing welfare in olfaction-dependent species.
Given the strong global interest in improving animal welfare, the project places a high priority on the dissemination and practical implementation of its findings. Ultimately, this research aims to generate knowledge that can enhance the welfare of farm animals, animals used in biomedical research, and companion animals.
Project partners: Prof Birte L. Nielsen, UFAW & Dr Vincent Bombail, SRUC, Scotland
Follow the project on social media using this hashtag: #SmellWell