Topic: olfactory behavior

Evaluating the innate value of objects is critical for expressing adaptive behaviors. The value of odor objects, in particular, has salient hedonic aspects whose assessment switches the behavioral output between approach and avoidance. Although the amygdala and the lateral horn (LH) in mammalian and insect brains are implicated in driving innate olfactory behavior (Heimbeck et al., 2001; Root et al., 2014), whether and how these areas compute innate value of odors remain largely unknown, let alone the underlying circuit mechanism. Here we recorded the activity of virtually all the neurons in t

The loss of a sensory input leads to reorganization of neuronal networks in remaining sensory cortices, which results in functional improvements. This shows remarkable adaptability of the mammalian brain. It remains elusive whether a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a sensory cortex results in similar functional reorganization in spared sensory networks. We herein investigated global alterations in neuronal activity maps in the mouse brain subjected to a TBI in the visual cortex and delved into the underlying cellular mechanisms. Our data shows substantial differences in brain activity maps 2-3

One of the most common outdoor air pollutants is Ozone (O3) that forms in the Earth's atmosphere, both naturally and by reactions of man-made air pollutants. A growing set of data have demonstrated a close correlation between exposure to different air pollutants and multiple adverse effects in different organs and tissues, such as lung, cardiovascular system, skin and central nervous system (CNS). We examined in two species of male mice, whether O3 could alters olfactory behavior and cellular properties in the olfactory system. For this purpose, mice were exposed to O3 at a concentration foun