Which part of the brain is responsible for processing smell information received from the nose?

The olfactory bulb is the part of the brain specifically designed to process smell information received from the nose. When olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity detect odor molecules, they transmit signals to the olfactory bulb. This structure acts as the first relay station for the nerve signals related to smell, where they are processed and integrated before being sent to other areas of the brain, such as the limbic system, which is involved in emotions and memory, and the frontal lobe, where further processing occurs.

Understanding the role of the olfactory bulb is vital for grasping how olfactory information is handled in the brain and why it is distinct from other functions managed by different brain structures, such as the cerebellum, which coordinates movement; the frontal lobe, which is involved in higher cognitive functions; and the occipital lobe, which processes visual information.