Final answer:
The olfactory bulb, part of the frontal lobe, is associated with the olfactory lobe. Olfactory signals reach the primary olfactory cortex, limbic system, and hypothalamus, directly influencing emotions and memories.
Step-by-step explanation:
The part of the brain associated with the olfactory lobe is the olfactory bulb, which is located on the ventral surface of the frontal lobe. Olfactory neurons extend from the nasal epithelium, pass through the cribriform plate, and reach the olfactory bulb. From there, signals are sent to the primary olfactory cortex in the temporal lobe, as well as to the limbic system and hypothalamus.
The olfactory bulb contains neural clusters called glomeruli that process different odorants. This smell information is uniquely processed in the brain without synapsing in the thalamus first, unlike most other sensory data. Consequently, smells are intimately connected to emotions and memories because they interface directly with the brain's areas responsible for these aspects.