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Lateralized memory storage and crossed inhibition during odor processing by Limax.
T Teyke1, J W Wang, A Gelperin
1Institut für Zoologie (III) Biophysik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany.
Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
|April 11, 2000
Summary
In Limax maximus, odor pathways in the brain compete, showing crossed inhibition. This lateral inhibition mechanism processes conflicting sensory inputs to the nose.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Olfactory Processing
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- The Limax maximus procerebral lobe is crucial for odor processing.
- Neural pathways for left and right odor processing appear to interact competitively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the competitive interaction and crossed inhibition between left and right odor processing pathways in Limax maximus.
- To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying olfactory lateral inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Odor conditioning in intact Limax maximus.
- Intrahemocoelic injection of Lucifer Yellow (LY) to trace neuronal pathways.
- Recording nerve discharge in the external peritentacular nerve.
- Stimulation of superior and inferior noses with conditioned odors, both unilaterally and simultaneously.
Main Results:
- Labeled neurons were found exclusively in either the right or left procerebral lobe after odor conditioning and LY injection, indicating pathway competition.
- Responses in the external peritentacular nerve were lateralized to the stimulated side during unilateral odor application.
- Simultaneous stimulation with the same odor resulted in summed responses, while conflicting odors induced strong crossed inhibition in both nerves.
- Crossed inhibition was also observed when stimulating both superior and inferior noses on the same side.
Conclusions:
- A competitive interaction exists between the left and right odor processing pathways in the procerebral lobe.
- A lateral inhibitory mechanism, acting postsynaptic to odor recognition, is responsible for inhibiting nerve responses when conflicting olfactory inputs are received.