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Behavioral Assays in the Study of Olfaction: A Practical Guide
Fabio Papes1, Thiago S Nakahara2,3, Antonio P Camargo2,3
1Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. papesf@unicamp.br.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|June 10, 2018
Summary
This chapter details behavioral assays for studying the olfactory system in mammals. It explores how smell influences innate and learned behaviors, providing a guide for olfactory research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Biology
- Sensory Systems
Background:
- Olfaction is a critical sensory system in most animals, particularly mammals.
- The mammalian olfactory system detects diverse chemical cues, including odorants and pheromones.
- These chemical signals regulate innate and learned behaviors, as well as endocrine responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of behavioral assays for studying the olfactory system.
- To serve as a practical guide for researchers investigating olfaction-mediated behaviors.
- To aid in understanding the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying smell-driven behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Focuses on behavioral assays commonly used in laboratory rodent models.
- Describes methods for studying the detection of odorants and chemical communication cues.
- Highlights techniques for analyzing innate and learned behavioral outputs influenced by olfaction.
Main Results:
- Details a range of established behavioral assays for olfactory research.
- Illustrates the application of these assays in laboratory rodent species.
- Connects olfactory stimuli to adaptive behavioral outputs and endocrine changes.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral assays are essential tools for dissecting the complexities of the olfactory system.
- Understanding these assays facilitates research into the molecular, cellular, and neural underpinnings of smell.
- This work serves as a foundational guide for advancing the study of olfaction-mediated behaviors.
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