How is it that we, as humans, are able to detect 1 trillion

Last updated: 7/15/2022

How is it that we, as humans, are able to detect 1 trillion different scents? Because we have hundreds of olfactory receptor types, each with an ability to detect several different odorants. Because taste and smell combine to provide thorough input to the cerebral cortex. Because we have 1 trillion different olfactory receptors. Only because we combine input from several types of olfactory receptors.