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Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals
Published on: October 31, 2011
Complexity of olfactory lateralization processes revealed by functional imaging: a review
G Brand1, J L Millot, D Henquell
1Laboratoire de Neurosciences, Faculté des Sciences, Place Leclerc, 25000, Besançon, France. gerard.brand@univ-fcomte.fr
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|April 27, 2001
Summary
Olfactory processing and brain lateralization remain complex. Cerebral imaging studies reveal that functional asymmetry in smell perception is influenced by stimulus type, task demands, and individual subject characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Perception
- Olfactory Processing
Background:
- Cerebral imaging advances neuroscience, enhancing understanding of human perception and sensory information processing.
- Chemical senses (taste and smell) are understudied compared to auditory, visual, and tactile senses.
- Recent research aims to address the limited attention given to olfactory and gustatory senses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate brain regions involved in olfactory information processing.
- Examine the unresolved question of functional asymmetry (lateralization) in olfaction.
- Synthesize findings from cerebral imaging studies on olfactory lateralization.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing cerebral imaging studies focusing on olfactory processing.
- Analysis of data related to functional asymmetry in the olfactory system.
- Identification of factors influencing olfactory lateralization.
Main Results:
- Olfactory processing involves specific brain regions, with ongoing investigation into lateralization.
- Functional asymmetry in olfaction is not yet definitively resolved, with heterogeneous data.
- Cerebral imaging highlights that olfactory lateralization is multifactorial.
Conclusions:
- Functional lateralization in olfaction is complex and depends on various factors.
- Future research must consider stimulus nature, task demands, and subject characteristics.
- Further investigation is needed to fully understand olfactory functional asymmetry.
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