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Sniffing and whisking in rodents
Martin Deschênes1, Jeffrey Moore, David Kleinfeld
1Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Laval University, Québec City G1J 2G3, Canada. martin.deschenes@crulrg.ulaval.ca
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|December 20, 2011
Summary
Rodents use rhythmic sniffing and whisking to track objects and anticipate rewards. Similarities suggest these exploratory behaviors share underlying neural control mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Biology
- Motor Control
Background:
- Sniffing and whisking are key orofacial motor activities in rodents.
- These behaviors are crucial for object localization and reward anticipation.
- The neural mechanisms controlling these rhythmic movements remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the similarities between sniffing and whisking.
- To explore a potential mechanistic link between these two behaviors.
- To advance understanding of the neural basis of exploratory actions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on rodent sniffing and whisking.
- Comparative analysis of temporal dynamics and functional roles.
- Hypothesis generation based on shared characteristics.
Main Results:
- Sniffing and whisking exhibit related temporal dynamics.
- Both behaviors involve shared musculature and sensory tasks.
- Both are overt expressions of reward anticipation.
Conclusions:
- The similarities between sniffing and whisking suggest a shared neural control system.
- Further research into these shared mechanisms is warranted.
- Understanding these links can illuminate the neural basis of exploratory behaviors.
