Final answer:
Olfactory receptor cells synapse with neurons in the olfactory bulbs, and impulses then travel via olfactory tracts to the limbic system, bypassing the thalamus, unlike other sensory information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Olfactory receptor cells synapse with neurons located in nervous tissue structures called olfactory bulbs. From there, impulses travel via olfactory tracts to the limbic system. The olfactory system is integral to our sense of smell and begins in the peripheral structures of the nasal cavity, specifically within the olfactory epithelium.
This epithelium contains olfactory receptor neurons with dendrites that extend into the mucus lining, where they bind to odor molecules. Once bound, they send signals to the olfactory bulb.
These signals from the olfactory bulb are then sent to different brain regions, including the olfactory cortex, which is in close proximity to the limbic system - responsible for memory and emotion - bypassing the thalamus, which is the usual relay station for other sensory information.