Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gustation01:43

Gustation

51.7K
Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.
51.7K
The Physiology of Taste01:24

The Physiology of Taste

6.8K
The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the...
6.8K
Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

Taste Buds and Receptors

4.4K
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
4.4K
Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

3.5K
The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological...
3.5K
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

3.3K
Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
3.3K
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

47.9K
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...
47.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Postnatal development of pyramidal neurons excitability and synaptic inputs in mouse gustatory cortical circuits.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Inhibitory Gating of Thalamocortical Inputs onto Rat Gustatory Insular Cortex.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2023
Same author

Altered Thalamocortical Signaling in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2023
Same author

Experience-dependent plasticity of gustatory insular cortex circuits and taste preferences.

Science advances·2023
Same author

Metastable dynamics of neural circuits and networks.

Applied physics reviews·2022
Same author

Reduced Dopamine Signaling Impacts Pyramidal Neuron Excitability in Mouse Motor Cortex.

eNeuro·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

New Methods to Study Gustatory Coding
10:59

New Methods to Study Gustatory Coding

Published on: June 29, 2017

9.8K

Synaptic Integration of Thalamic and Limbic Inputs in Rodent Gustatory Cortex.

M E Stone1, A Fontanini2, A Maffei2

  • 1Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794.

Eneuro
|February 6, 2020
PubMed
Summary

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) influences how the gustatory cortex (GC) processes taste information from the thalamus. This interaction dynamically gates neural circuits, impacting taste perception.

Keywords:
amygdalocorticalexcitationgustatory cortexinhibitionintegrationthalamocortical

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats
08:07

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats

Published on: August 24, 2016

9.5K
Whole-Mount Staining, Visualization, and Analysis of Fungiform, Circumvallate, and Palate Taste Buds
07:40

Whole-Mount Staining, Visualization, and Analysis of Fungiform, Circumvallate, and Palate Taste Buds

Published on: February 11, 2021

3.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 29, 2025

New Methods to Study Gustatory Coding
10:59

New Methods to Study Gustatory Coding

Published on: June 29, 2017

9.8K
Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats
08:07

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats

Published on: August 24, 2016

9.5K
Whole-Mount Staining, Visualization, and Analysis of Fungiform, Circumvallate, and Palate Taste Buds
07:40

Whole-Mount Staining, Visualization, and Analysis of Fungiform, Circumvallate, and Palate Taste Buds

Published on: February 11, 2021

3.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gustatory System Research
  • Sensory Processing

Background:

  • Gustatory cortex (GC) neurons process taste identity, anticipation, and hedonic value.
  • Information reaches GC from the gustatory thalamus (VPMpc) and basolateral amygdala (BLA).
  • The integration of these inputs within GC remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the convergence of BLA and VPMpc inputs in the GC.
  • To explore the dynamics of how these inputs are integrated.
  • To understand the role of BLA in modulating GC processing of thalamic information.

Main Methods:

  • Anterograde labeling in anesthetized rats.
  • In vivo intracellular recordings.
  • Assessment of axonal field overlap and neuronal responses.

Main Results:

  • Significant anatomical overlap of BLA and VPMpc axonal projections in GC.
  • Identification of GC neurons receiving convergent inputs from both BLA and VPMpc.
  • BLA modulates VPMpc-evoked responses in a time-dependent manner, involving synaptic inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • BLA and VPMpc inputs converge onto GC neurons.
  • BLA dynamically gates thalamic input processing in the GC.
  • This modulation involves regulating the excitatory/inhibitory balance within the GC circuit.