What is the primary function of the olfactory nerve in the sensory processing of smell?

The primary function of the olfactory nerve is to carry impulses from the odor receptors to the brain. This nerve plays a crucial role in the sense of smell by transmitting sensory information related to odors detected by specialized cells in the nasal cavity. When odor molecules bind to these receptors, they generate neural signals that travel along the olfactory nerve directly to the olfactory bulb in the brain, where the perception of smell begins.

The other options describe different processes or unrelated sensory pathways. The olfactory nerve does not connect the nose to the thalamus, which serves as a relay station for most sensory information except smell. Additionally, while the olfactory bulb processes smell information, it does not directly form neural impulses; rather, it acts as the site where these impulses are integrated and sent to other brain areas for further processing. The olfactory nerve also does not transmit taste information, as the sensation of taste is carried out through separate gustatory pathways distinct from the olfactory system.