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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.
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Related Experiment Video

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An Objective and Reproducible Test of Olfactory Learning and Discrimination in Mice
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Orbitofrontal control of the olfactory cortex regulates olfactory discrimination learning.

Ding Wang1, Ying Zhang1, Shan Li1

  • 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.

The Journal of Physiology
|November 16, 2024
PubMed
Summary

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) influences olfactory learning by modulating the anterior piriform cortex (aPC). Suppressing this OFC-aPC connection impairs learning, suggesting adaptable OFC input is crucial for olfactory processing.

Keywords:
in vivo electrophysiologyolfactory discrimination learningorbitofrontal cortexpiriform cortexwhole‐cell recording

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory processing
  • Decision-making

Background:

  • The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is key for decision-making and associative learning.
  • Its role in modulating the olfactory cortex (aPC) is not well understood.
  • The OFC extensively innervates the aPC, suggesting a significant top-down influence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional role and mechanisms of OFC projections to the aPC.
  • To explore how OFC-aPC interactions impact olfactory learning.
  • To elucidate the neurophysiological basis of OFC modulation in olfactory processing.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-cell recordings in awake mice.
  • Electrophysiological analysis of synaptic connections between OFC and aPC.
  • Assessment of olfactory discrimination learning performance.
  • Manipulation of OFC-aPC projections.

Main Results:

  • OFC forms direct excitatory and indirect inhibitory connections with aPC pyramidal neurons.
  • OFC projections regulate spontaneous and odor-evoked activity in the aPC.
  • Inhibiting OFC-aPC projections disrupts olfactory discrimination learning.
  • Olfactory learning increases aPC neuron excitability and decreases OFC input.

Conclusions:

  • OFC exerts critical top-down control over the aPC, essential for olfactory learning.
  • Adaptable OFC input to the aPC is vital for successful olfactory discrimination.
  • This study reveals mechanisms of sensory integration and associative learning modulated by the OFC.