Precision and Diversity in an Odor Map on the Olfactory Bulb

Overview

Journal Nat Neurosci

Date 2009 Jan 20

PMID 19151709

Citations 183

Authors

Edward R Soucy

Dinu F Albeanu

Antoniu L Fantana

Venkatesh N Murthy

Markus Meister

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We explored the map of odor space created by glomeruli on the olfactory bulb of both rat and mouse. Identified glomeruli could be matched across animals by their response profile to hundreds of odors. Their layout in different individuals varied by only approximately 1 glomerular spacing, corresponding to a precision of 1 part in 1,000. Across species, mouse and rat share many glomeruli with apparently identical odor tuning, arranged in a similar layout. In mapping the position of a glomerulus to its odor tuning, we found only a coarse relationship with a precision of approximately 5 spacings. No chemotopic order was apparent on a finer scale and nearby glomeruli were almost as diverse in their odor sensitivity as distant ones. This local diversity of sensory tuning stands in marked distinction from other brain maps. Given the reliable placement of the glomeruli, it represents a feature, not a flaw, of the olfactory bulb.

Citing Articles

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