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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 1, 2025

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

State-dependent olfactory processing in freely behaving mice.

Mary R Schreck¹, Liujing Zhuang¹, Emma Janke¹

¹Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

|March 2, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Olfactory processing is enhanced during natural sleep, contrary to expectations. Researchers found no central gating mechanism in the brain, suggesting sleep actually amplifies smell signals.

Keywords:

local field potential mediodorsal thalamus olfactory bulb optogenetics orbitofrontal cortex piriform cortex sensory gating single-unit recording sleep

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Sensory Processing
Sleep Research

Background:

Sensory gating during sleep is thought to involve thalamic pathways.
The anterior piriform cortex (APC) is hypothesized as a gate for olfactory information in anesthetized states.
Olfactory processing during natural sleep remains largely uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate olfactory processing in the brain during natural sleep states (NREM and REM).
To determine if a central gating mechanism exists in the olfactory system during sleep.
To compare olfactory evoked potentials and neural activity between wakefulness and sleep.

Main Methods:

Simultaneous recording of local field potentials (LFPs) in the olfactory bulb (OB), APC, and orbitofrontal cortex.
Optogenetic activation of olfactory sensory neurons in behaving mice to ensure consistent peripheral input.
Single-unit recordings in the OB and APC.
Monitoring of nasal breathing patterns.

Main Results:

Evoked LFPs were larger with greater gamma-band power and cross-region coherence during NREM and REM sleep compared to wakefulness.
A higher percentage of OB and APC neurons were responsive during sleep, with an increased incidence of firing suppression.
Nasal breathing became slower and shallower during sleep.

Conclusions:

The olfactory system lacks a central gating mechanism during natural sleep.
Olfactory processing appears enhanced during sleep, with increased signal transmission and altered neural responses.
Peripheral gating via changes in nasal breathing may play a partial role in modulating olfactory input during sleep.