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Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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...
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation
10:42

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Published on: August 18, 2014

Experience and behavior modulate piriform cortex odor representation in freely moving mice.

Ian F Chapman1,2, Martin A Raymond1,3, Max L Fletcher1

  • 1Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.

Iscience
|May 25, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Odor representations in the piriform cortex (PC) shift over time. Animal investigation behavior influences PC neuronal activity and the consistency of odor coding, highlighting a role for behavior in neural representation.

Keywords:
behavioral neuroscienceneurosciencesystems neuroscience

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory system research
  • Sensory processing

Background:

  • Piriform cortex (PC) neuronal activity encodes odor identity within a single session.
  • Odor representations in the PC show reduced consistency over extended periods.
  • The influence of behavior on the reliability of PC odor representations remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term stability of odor representations in the piriform cortex.
  • To explore the role of animal behavior in modulating PC activity and odor coding consistency over time.

Main Methods:

  • Chronic micro-endoscopic calcium imaging of piriform cortex neurons in freely moving mice.
  • Recording neuronal activity across sequential days of odor exposure.
  • Correlating changes in odor representation with observed animal investigation behaviors.

Main Results:

  • Odor representations were detected in PC activity despite background neural firing in freely moving animals.
  • Changes in PC response features and representational consistency across sessions correlated with animal investigation behavior.
  • Significant shifts in PC odor representation occurred over time (days).

Conclusions:

  • Piriform cortex odor representations are dynamic and change over extended periods.
  • Animal behavior, specifically investigation, plays a role in modulating PC activity and the stability of odor representations.
  • Behavioral engagement is crucial for maintaining reliable neural coding in the olfactory system.