Photo: Erik Thor/SUA
Human olfaction – the sense of smell – enables us to appreciate foods and drinks, it warns us of dangerous chemicals, and it makes our environments more enjoyable. However, olfaction is one of our least explored sensory systems. My research investigates how our brains process odors. To map these processes, I carry out psychological experiments in combination with biological measurements, in particular neuroimaging and genetic information. Together with my colleagues, I have found that olfactory deficits might be an early indication of a developing dementia disorder. Thus, olfactory testing might be used as a diagnostic tool in the future. We also investigate how olfactory abilities might be altered through training. Our goal is to develop methods for training the aging brain with odors in order to strengthen the perceptual and cognitive abilities of the brain.
Born: 1978
Family: Married to Caitlin Hawley.
Interests: I am interested in interdisciplinary and popular scientific communication, as well as cultural and social debate. In the book "Evolution Theory and Human Nature" (Natur och Kultur, 2015), I discuss the roles that evolution theory has played for human self-understanding, and how modern evolution theory can be reconciled with social and humanistic perspectives.
Other: I have a great interest in sports, especially martial arts, and I am proud owner of Nelson, a gray dwarf poodle.
The renewal of research is driven by young researchers. But their potential has long been neglected. I want to promote the situation of young researchers and contribute to making Sweden a leading research nation. I also want to contribute to making research more accessible through popular science and interdisciplinary activities.
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