Abstract:
The olfactory bulb (OB) is a critical component of the mammalian olfactory pathway. First and foremost, it is the sole recipient of sensory information from olfactory sensory neurons, and as such the only source of olfactory input to other brain regions. Its stereotyped circuitry is thought to be critical for basic computations that are required for the identification of odors over a wide range of concentrations. I will describe a project in which we analyzed the behavioral capabilities of a unique mouse model in which the OBs are severely degenerated, often missing more than 90% of the OB volume. Surprisingly, we found that these mice perform a wide range of odor-guided tasks at a level that is not different from control mice. I will describe our analysis of the underlying circuitry as well as the statistical properties of odor representations in the brains of these mice.