Olfactory bulb and cortex activity reflects subjective odor intensity perception rather than concentration

Understanding stimulus intensity processing is fundamental in sensory science, yet this question remains largely unexplored in human olfaction. We investigated how the human olfactory bulb (OB) and piriform cortex (PC) process odor concentration versus subjective perceived intensity. We demonstrate that OB-PC network oscillatory dynamics are predominantly driven by perceived intensity, not physical concentration. The OB initially processes and communicates perceived intensity to the PC via early gamma-band oscillations (bottom-up feedback). The PC then refines and sends this percept back to the OB via later beta-band oscillations (top-down feedback), updating the OB’s gamma activity for subsequent odorants. Critically, analyses of phase-amplitude coupling and beta burst activity demonstrate that transient beta patterns from the PC update OB gamma activity, providing the OB with an updated internal representation of the odor percept. These results reveal an oscillatory mechanism by which the olfactory system maintains perceptual constancy and adaptability despite fluctuations in environmental odor concentrations.