Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
09:30
Localization of Odorant Receptor Genes in Locust Antennae by RNA In Situ Hybridization
Published on: July 13, 2017
Smelling excitement in the antennal lobe
Benjamin Leung1, Scott Waddell
1Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. benjamin.leung@umassmed.edu
Cell
|February 10, 2007
Summary
Researchers discovered new excitatory neurons in the fly antennal lobe. These neurons may explain how projection neurons process odor information differently than sensory neurons.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Olfactory system research
- Insect brain function
Background:
- Projection neurons in the fly antennal lobe relay olfactory information from sensory neurons to higher brain centers.
- A discrepancy exists between olfactory sensory neuron and projection neuron responses to odors, despite apparent one-to-one connectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying differential odor processing in the fly antennal lobe.
- To identify potential neuronal populations that could explain the observed response differences.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings in the fly antennal lobe.
- Neural circuit tracing and analysis.
- Odor stimulation experiments.
Main Results:
- Identification of a novel population of excitatory neurons within the antennal lobe.
- These excitatory neurons exhibit distinct response properties compared to olfactory sensory neurons.
- Evidence suggests these neurons play a role in modulating olfactory information flow.
Conclusions:
- A previously undescribed population of excitatory neurons contributes to olfactory processing in the fly antennal lobe.
- These neurons offer a potential explanation for the functional differences observed between olfactory sensory neurons and projection neurons.
- Further research into these neurons could elucidate complex olfactory coding mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Olfaction
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
01:20Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
The olfactory...
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
01:27Tactile and Chemical Senses
Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex. This...