C-19 and taste/smell.......

Fever, virus aches, headache and dry cough. So that was the drill when this WUHAN-RED CHINESE virus started making her rounds. Of course, with more clinical data rolling in, we now know that disturbances in these two related senses may often be the first symptoms of serious infection.
Half a dozen banks of receptors, variously located in the nose and mouth, send information directly to subcortical ganglionic centers, notably the amygdala and hippocampus, waystations for emotions and memory, which do a little processing, before schlepping it all to higher substrates (grey and white matter,---no, the lives of black neurons don't seem to matter at all), and are then registered in conscience, as novel or familiar tastes and smells. But likely not only so. I digress not.
So again, this virus ain't your ordinary chest cold item. The list grows as to all the organ systems it seems to affect. The formidable effect producer, humanity's favorite, the Syphilis spirochete, will soon be jealous. And while some are not so affected, and many experience only mild losses in sensation, in some victims, the losses are severe, and may seem permanent. Other viruses can do the same, usually less so.
So bullying the nervous system as well? Nice. Never a welcome viral characteristic. But the good news, if there is any, is that many patients can regain much of their sensation, with so called Taste/Smell training. Twice daily, for months, various strong stimulants (lemon, eucalyptus, chives, etc.) are experienced from containers, for varying periods of time. Not really so surprising, since when various motor and other nervous functions are lost in stroke victims, skilled physical and speech therapists can do wonders. Over a long time. VERY long.
Sure, we all love the tastes and smells of our food and drink. But the plot thickens. Recall, the very first bunch of associating neurons to receive the info. Yep, those for emotions and memory, among other functions.
It's been known for a long time that all of these items are tightly in cahoots. Early memories, associated with other important learning. The feelings sometimes going along for the ride. And what does the Vierk call it, cad that he is, when he is on the prowl for tarts---yep, doing a little sniffing about.
Of course, none of this would be a surprise to Mr. Bravo. Dogs live for smells in their sexuality.
Enter the topic of sub awareness human (and others') pheromones, and it all starts to hang together.
WOW!
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Vierkaesehoch

Ocean Coast, Maine, USA

Retired doc. Years left to enjoy. Music, reading, travel. sailing, volunteering, winters in warmer climes. Handy, curious, multilingual (German, French, Spanish, learning Portuguese). Loves animals. Working on private pilot's first ticket. If build t [read more]