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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
08:30
Imaging Odor-Evoked Activities in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb using Optical Reflectance and Autofluorescence Signals
Published on: October 31, 2011
Smelling sounds: olfactory-auditory sensory convergence in the olfactory tubercle
Daniel W Wesson1, Donald A Wilson
1Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York 10962, USA. dwesson@nki.rfmh.org
Summary
Auditory stimuli influence early smell processing in the olfactory tubercle, a brain region. This suggests the olfactory tubercle is a key site for integrating smell and sound perception.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory processing
- Olfactory system
Background:
- Psychophysical studies suggest interactions between smell and hearing.
- Neural mechanisms underlying olfactory-auditory interplay are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate auditory influences on early olfactory processing.
- To identify brain regions involved in olfactory-auditory cross-modal interactions.
Main Methods:
- In vivo extracellular recordings were performed in anesthetized mice.
- Single-unit activity was recorded from the olfactory tubercle and olfactory bulb.
- Responses to odor and auditory tone stimuli were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 65% of olfactory tubercle units responded to odors.
- 19% of olfactory tubercle units responded to auditory tones.
- 29% of units showed cross-modal modulation (supraadditive or suppressive) by combined odor and tone stimuli.
- Olfactory bulb units did not respond to tones or show tone-modulated odor responses.
Conclusions:
- The olfactory tubercle exhibits direct olfactory-auditory convergence early in odor processing.
- This brain region may be crucial for psychophysical interactions between smells and sounds.
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