'''Olfactory hallucinations''' occur where a person experiences a smell without the appropriate stimulus molecules being present. Anumberoffactorsmaygiverisetothephenomenon
+
'''Olfactory hallucinations''' or '''phantosmia''' occur where a person experiences a smell without the appropriate stimulus molecules being present. Themostcommon[[odors]]areunpleasantsmellssuchas rotting flesh, vomit, [[urine]], [[feces]], smoke, etc.
+
+
A number of factors may give rise to the phenomenon. They often results from damage to the [[nervous tissue]] in the [[olfactory]] system. The damage can be caused by [[viral infection]], [[brain tumor]], [[Physical trauma|trauma]], [[surgery]], and possibly exposure to [[toxin]]s or [[drug]]s.<ref>[http://www.doctorhoffman.com/wwphant.htm Phantom smells<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Phantosmia can also be induced by [[epilepsy]] affecting the [[olfactory cortex]] and is also thought to possibly have [[psychiatric]] origins.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Phantosmia is different from [[parosmia]], in which a smell is actually present, but perceived differently from its usual smell.
+
+
-----
+
+
==See also==
+
*[[Hallucinations]]
+
*[[Odor discrimination]]
+
*[[Odor detection threshold]]
+
*[[Olfactory perception]]
+
+
==References & Bibliography==
+
<References/>
+
==Key texts==
+
===Books===
+
+
===Papers===
+
+
==Additional material==
+
===Books===
+
+
===Papers===
+
*[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?sourceid=mozclient&num=50&scoring=d&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=Olfactory+hallucinations Google Scholar]
Olfactory hallucinations or phantosmia occur where a person experiences a smell without the appropriate stimulus molecules being present. The most common odors are unpleasant smells such as rotting flesh, vomit, urine, feces, smoke, etc.
